DOT replaces TIGER grants with BUILD

The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened applications for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the newly rebranded Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation program.    The U.S. Department of Transportation is rebranding a popular Obama-era discretionary grant program that provides funding for federally significant transportation infrastructure projects.
   The department on Friday opened applications for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation program, which will replace the existing Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.
   USDOT said in a statement the fiscal year 2018 BUILD Transportation grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to support the maintenance and rebuilding of roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation. Projects will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, environmental protection, state of good repair, innovation, partnership, and additional non-federal revenue for future transportation infrastructure investments, the department said.
   In an effort to reflect the Trump administration’s infrastructure initiatives, USDOT “intends to award a greater share of BUILD Transportation grant funding to projects located in rural areas that align well with the selection criteria than to such projects in urban areas…including support for rural broadband deployment where it is part of an eligible transportation project.”
   Congress’ Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 made $1.5 billion in funding available for national infrastructure investments via the BUILD program through Sept. 30, 2020.
   Under the current round of BUILD Transportation grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, no more than $150 million can be awarded to a single state, and at least 30 percent of funds must be awarded to projects located in rural areas.
   “BUILD Transportation grants will help communities revitalize their surface transportation systems while also increasing support for rural areas to ensure that every region of our country benefits,” Secretary Elaine L. Chao said of the program.