IIJA Funding
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) was passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) was passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021. It’s a once-in-a-generation legislation that is estimated to add 2 million jobs to the economy each year over the next decade and modernize our nation’s infrastructure in communities across the country. The bipartisan infrastructure law also takes action on a host of climate initiatives, including promoting our clean energy infrastructure, advancing environmental justice initiatives, and making the first major investment in America’s climate resilience.
Local agencies can access IIJA transportation funds in three general ways: 1. Meeting certain eligibility criteria for formula funds; 2. Receiving suballocations from state governments; and/or 3. Applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) or a state department of transportation for competitive grant opportunities. The IIJA also provides just over $100 billion in direct, competitive grant opportunities through USDOT to local governments over the life of the bill.
Total Funding (FY22-FY26): $1.2T
$550B in new spending
$567B transportation funding for All DOT modes (re-authorization)
Out of the $550B in new spending, $350B for highway programs
Key facts:
- More transportation funding for existing and new projects – 29% increase compared to the FAST Act FY 2021
- A lot of money will go down to the state and local level
- State and local agencies funding will go through formulaic traditional funding paths
- There will be $100 billion in competitive grant opportunities
Specific transportation grants to look out for (Program information as of April 4, 2022)
USDOT’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity (MPDG)
Type: Solicit applications for three funding opportunities: National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program (Mega), Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program (INFRA) and Rural Surface Transportation Grant program (Rural)
The application processes for these grants are being combined by USDOT into the overarching MPDG.
Funding: Mega – $5 Billion
INFRA – $7.25 Billion
Rural – $1 Billion
(All totals available FY22 – FY26)
Timing: May 23, 2022
Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program
Type: Supports regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
Funding: $5-6 billion over 5yrs
Timing: May 2022
Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program
Type: Restores community connectivity by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development. Applies to for capital construction projects.
Funding: $1 Billion over 5 years
Timing: June 2022
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program
Type: Funding for to rural, midsized, and large communities to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems in a variety of communities to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
Funding: $500 Million
Timing: September 2022
Rebuilding American Infrastructure Sustainably and Equitably (RAISE) Grants
Type: For road, rail, transit, and other surface transportation of local and/or regional significance. Selection criteria safety, sustainability, equity, economic competitiveness, mobility, and community connectivity
Funding: $1.5 Billion (Existing)
Timing: Applications for for year 1 have closed. Opportunities will be available in 2023
Middle Mile Grants Program
Type: This new program at the Department of Commerce provides grants for the construction, improvement or acquisition of middle mile broadband infrastructure.
Funding: $1 billion
Timing: Applications will likely open during the second quarter of 2022.
ATTIMD (formerly ATCMTD)
Type: Safety and mobility, traditional technology projects, mobility of people and goods, durability of infrastructure, protecting the environment
Funding: $60M per year, 50% match
Timing: TBD
Grants for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure
Type: States, MPOs, local districts, ports, tribes deploy publicly accessible alternative fueling infrastructure including EV considerations include: real-time availability information, secure payment structures, convenient and fair payments, collaboration with OEMs, utilities, location and surrounding amenities along with accessibility, responsive to technology
Funding: $1.25B
Timing: TBD
PROTECT
Type: Geared to improving resiliency of climate change community, port resilience, evacuation routes, at-risk coastal states may use for: planning, strengthen evacuation routes, protect from wildfires, extreme weather, earthquake etc., highway and transit projects, includes communications for ITS and infrastructure
Funding: $7.3B formula, $1.4 B competitive
Timing: TBD
Carbon Reduction Program
Type: Reduce emissions, support reductions for transportation emissions, support multimodal, trails, public transportation, congestion management technologies projects for ITS capital improvements, CV communications including retrofitting DSRC
Funding: $6.5B
Timing: TBD
Congestion Relief Program
Type: Integrated and multimodal programs in congested areas. Goals: Reduce highway congestion, Reduce GHG Highway and transit, Encourage carpooling, HOV, Tolling
Funding: TBD
Timing: TBD