DOT Opens $5.5B for the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity
Eligible applicants: states, local governments, local authorities, tribal entities, federal agencies. Applications are due August 21, 2023.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is currently accepting applications)
Opportunity:
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Department of Transportation’s FY 2023-2024 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity (MPDG)
National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects)
Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (Infra Projects)
Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program
Overview and Eligible Uses: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (BIL) allocated funds to the Department of Transportation for three grant programs: the Mega program, the INFRA program, and the Rural program. To simplify the application process, the Department has combined the solicitations for these programs into the MPDG opportunity, allowing applicants to apply to one, two, or all three programs. The FY 2023-2024 MPDG awards will align with the priorities set by Executive Order 14052, focusing on safety, economic strength, global competitiveness, equity, and climate and sustainability, in line with the Department's strategic goals. Eligible uses for each program include:
National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program (Mega): supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Eligible projects could include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national or regional significance.
Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program (INFRA): awards competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. Eligible projects will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency, and hold the greatest promise to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements.
Rural Surface Transportation Grant program (Rural): supports projects that improve and expand our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas in order to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life. Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area
Amount: Under the BIL, up to $5 billion is available for the Mega program, up to $8 billion for the INFRA program, and up to $2 billion for the Rural program, totaling up to $15 billion for the period of FY 2022 through 2026. This notice is inviting applications for the FY 2023 and FY 2024 MPDG opportunity, with up to $5.575 billion available. The funding allocation includes up to $1.8 billion for the Mega program, up to $3.1 billion for the INFRA program, and up to $675 million for the Rural program.
Award Type: Discretionary Grant
Eligible Applicants:
States or a group of States
Metropolitan planning organizations or a regional transportation planning organizations
Units of local government
Political subdivisions of a State
Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including a port authorities
Tribal governments or a consortium of Tribal governments
Federal land management agencies that applies jointly with a State or group of States
Partnerships between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described above
A group of entities described above
NOTE: Eligibility may vary by program. Section C.1 of the NOFO linked below provides further information
Key Dates: Applications are due August 21, 2023
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.