DOT Opens $876 Million for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program
Submission deadline for FY 2024 and 2025 is February 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET and February 24, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET for FY 2026
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity: Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program
Overview and Eligible Uses: The PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program aims to enhance the resilience of surface transportation infrastructure—such as highways, public transit, ports, and railways—against climate risks. The program funds projects that apply innovative, scientifically grounded approaches to climate adaptation, especially in vulnerable communities. Emphasizing nature-based solutions, projects under this grant focus on using sustainable infrastructure like wetlands, urban forests, and bioswales to mitigate flood risks, erosion, and heat. By reducing transportation disruptions and addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities, the program seeks to improve public safety, equity, and resilience nationwide.
Grant Categories:
Planning Grants: For developing resilience plans, conducting design and vulnerability assessments, building technical capacity, and preparing evacuation strategies.
Resilience Improvement Grants: To enhance the durability of existing transportation infrastructure against natural disasters like flooding, wildfires, and extreme weather.
Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants: For protecting and improving essential evacuation routes, including expansions, safety enhancements, and redundancy measures.
At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants: For strengthening coastal infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, against hazards like storm surge, coastal erosion, and sea level rise to improve safety and reduce future maintenance costs.
Amount: DOT Federal Highway Administration provides up to $876,000,000 total for FY 2024-2026, divided as follows:
$576,000,000 for FY 2024-2025 PROTECT Discretionary Grants for 30-40 projects.
$300,000,000 for FY 2026 for 15-20 projects.
Grant Types:
$86,000,000 for Planning Grants with a minimum request of $100,000 for each.
$618,000,000 for Resilience Improvement Grants with a minimum request of $500,000.
$86,000,000 for Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants a minimum request of $500,000.
$86,000,000 for At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants a minimum request of $500,000.
FHWA may consider awards below minimum requests if justified.
Award Type: Grant
Eligible Applicants:
For Planning, Resilience Improvement, and Community Resilience & Evacuation Route Grants:
State or political subdivision (includes D.C. and Puerto Rico)
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
Local government units
Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function
Indian Tribes
Federal land management agencies applying jointly with a State or group of States
Multi-State or multijurisdictional groups of any eligible entities listed above
For At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants:
States (including U.S. Territories like the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands) bordering major water bodies (Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, or Great Lakes)
Political subdivisions within these States
MPOs within these States
Local government units within these States
Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function in these States
Indian Tribes in these States
Federal land management agencies applying jointly with these States
Multi-State or multijurisdictional groups of any eligible entities listed above
Key Dates:
Submission deadline for FY 2024 and 2025 is February 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Submission deadline for FY 2026 is February 24, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
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.