CAGTC Members,
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recover (TIGER) grant program. Beyond making $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding available, as called for in the fiscal year 2018 (FY18) omnibus, the NOFO also rebrands the program the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Applications will be due July 19, 2018. Please find the NOFO here and the USDOT announcement here. Also, please find additional materials distributed by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation today, including a BUILD vs TIGER fact sheet here and a FAQ document here.
As mandated in the FY18 omnibus, the maximum grant award for this round will be $25 million, with no more than $150 million awarded in a single state. At least 30 percent of funds must be allocated to rural areas. The NOFO states that USDOT is “committed to addressing the unmet transportation infrastructure needs of rural areas.” It notes that underinvestment in such areas has “allowed a slow and steady decline in the transportation routes that connect rural American communities to each other and to the rest of the country.” To address these needs, USDOT commits in the NOFO to awarding a greater share of the BUILD grant funds to rural projects.
Also mandated in the FY18 omnibus, the NOFO states that up to 80 percent of an urban project may be paid for through a grant from this program, while it is the Secretary’s prerogative to exceed 80 percent for a project located in a rural area. Eligible applications remain State, local, and tribal governments, including transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and other political subdivisions of state or local governments.
While TIGER had primary criteria and secondary criteria, the BUILD NOFO states that all merit criteria will receive equal consideration and lists them as:
- Safety: the project’s ability to foster a safe transportation system for goods and people;
- State of Good Repair: the project’s consistency with relevant plans and if the condition of the infrastructure will threaten network efficiently if left unimproved;
- Economic Competitiveness: if the project will decrease transportation costs, improve long-term efficiency, increase economic productivity, result in long-term job creation, and help with U.S. global competitiveness;
- Environmental Protection: the project’s ability to improve energy efficiency, reduce congestion-related emissions, reduces dependency on oil, and mitigates environmental impacts, among others;
- Quality of Life: if the project increases transportation choices for individuals, expands accesses and improves connectivity;
- Innovation: the use of innovative strategies such as innovative technology, innovative project delivery, and innovative financing;
- Partnership: if the project demonstrates strong collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders in both project development and funding, including private entities; and
- Non-Federal Revenue for Transportation Infrastructure Investment: if the project sponsor provides evidence it will secure and commit new, non-Federal revenue to transportation infrastructure investment.
USDOT will also consider project readiness as well as the cost benefit analysis.
As they have done in the past, USDOT will hold a series of webinars, including:
- A webinar on how to compete for BUILD Transportation Grants for all applicants on Thursday, May 24;
- A webinar for rural and tribal applicants on Tuesday, May 29; and
- A webinar on how to prepare a benefit cost analysis for a BUILD application on Thursday, May 31. All webinars will take place from 2:00-4:00 PM EDT.
Additional details and registration will be available here: https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants
Best,
Katie Cross
Manager, Member Communications & Policy
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
1625 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
tradecorridors.org