US Department of Transportation Technical Assistance Spotlight
• DOT’s new Transportation Data and Equity Hub provides tools, metrics, and data to analyze communities’ access to the transportation they need, and the challenges they face. Users can explore the data as well as maps and other visualizations of the data on a range of equity-related topics. Learn more about how to use the hub. Visit the DOT Navigator Data and Mapping tools.
• DOT’s report on Best Practices to Expand Access to Jobs and Economic Opportunity Through Transportation Infrastructure Investments, access by visiting DOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Workforce Development Initiative to find additional workforce development technical assistance resources.
• Recordings from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Equity in Roadway Safety 2023 webinar series! Registration is open for the 2024 Equity in Roadway Safety webinar series. The 2024 series includes the following events, sessions are scheduled for 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PT.
March 27, 2024 – Tools and Strategies for Equitable Design
May 22, 2024 – Equitable Data Analysis
July 24, 2024 – Roadway Safety for People Experiencing Homelessness
• The DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) is accessible in the 2024 NRSS Progress Report.
• The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program reduces barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. The Joint Office provides a variety of technical assistance resources to help with Electric Vehicle (EV) deployment for many modes of transportation.
Upcoming USDOT Funding Resources and Opportunities
The USDOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard provides communities with an overview of discretionary grant opportunities that can help meet their transportation infrastructure needs. The Dashboard also includes Federal grant programs outside of DOT that may be of particular interest to rural communities. The below list spotlights just a few of the currently open funding opportunities – visit the Grants Dashboard to find more or check out the calendar of open and upcoming grant opportunities!
New and Notable!
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) just announced the availability of more than $180 million in grants across four different programs to promote roadway safety. These grants, part of the funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are open to state, territorial, and tribal organizations, local jurisdictions, academic institutions, and other training programs and entities to promote commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety-related activities. Grant applications for the fiscal year 2024 cycle are due by 2:00 pm PT on Friday, April 19, 2024. Details regarding funding amounts, application requirements, and applicant and project eligibility can be found on FMCSA’s Grants website. (For those new to Grants.gov check out this DOT Navigator page with helpful tips).
• FHWA is now accepting applications for its $250 million Congestion Relief Program, which offers competitive grants to advance innovative, multimodal solutions to reduce vehicular traffic in the most congested metropolitan areas of the United States. The Congestion Relief Program is accepting applications for the first round through a NOFO, which provides $150 million in grants for fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Applications are due by April 22, 2024.
• DOT is accepting applications for its $1.256 billion Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. With the latest award announcement in December 2023, SS4A has provided $1.7 billion in Federal funding to over 1,000 communities in all 50 States and Puerto Rico. SS4A funds help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions. View the SS4A NOFO. Applications for Implementation Grants are due by May 16, 2024. Planning and demonstration grant applicants will have three opportunities to apply with the deadlines of April 4, May 16, and August 29, 2024. The SS4A team is hosting webinars on March 7, 8 and 13, 2024, for those interested in submitting applications and learning more about each of the different grant opportunities.
Other Grant Opportunities
Closing in March
• DOT is offering a $25 million funding opportunity for its Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) research program. More information about the competition is posted on the RAV NOFO Questions and Answers page, and linked here is a recording from the informational webinar held in January. Applications are due by March 13, 2024.
• FHWA is accepting applications for $9.7 billion in multi-year funding to improve the nation’s bridges through the competitive Bridge Investment Program’s “Planning” and “Bridge Project” categories, which fund bridge planning, repair, and replacement projects under $100 million. Visit FHWA’s Website to find more information, including an informational webinar recording. Technical assistance is also available to recipients who receive Bridge Investment Program grants. Applications for this round of planning and bridge project funding must be submitted by March 19, 2024 via Grants.gov.
Closing in April
• FTA is accepting applications for its $1.5 billion FY 2024 Low- or No-Emission Program to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development. The funding opportunity will advance FTA’s priorities of strengthening U.S. bus manufacturing, containing vehicle costs, and accelerating the delivery of new vehicles. The opportunity introduces streamlined application requirements for tribes requesting less than $1 million, making it easier for tribes with relatively small requests to apply. Applications are due by April 25, 2024.
• The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) is a discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration. Funds for the PIDP are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. Find more information about the $450 million available for FY 2024. Applications are due by April 30, 2024. General information to help prepare for DOT applications can also be found on the DOT Navigator, including the Discretionary Grant Preparation Checklist for Prospective Applicants.
Popular USDOT Navigator Grant Application Resources
• Understanding Non-Federal Match Requirements
• Grant Application Checklist for a Strong Transportation Workforce and Labor Plan
• Checklist for a Strong Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Grant Application
• Federal Tools to Determine Disadvantaged Community Status
• What Is a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)
• Use of DOT Funds for Public Involvement