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Rural Surface Transportation Grant Progam

ID: RSTGP-25-26-RURAL • Type: Posted

Description

The Department is combining three major discretionary grant programs and two fiscal years of funding into one Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity to reduce the burden for state and local applicants and increase the pipeline of shovel-worthy projects that are now possible because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural) program was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund will support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas 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. It is a highly competitive program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides approximately $1.7 billion for Rural over 5 years, of which approximately $780 million will be made available through this NOFO. At least 90% of rural funding must be awarded in amounts of $25 million or more. If you are seeking less than $25 million, you are competing for only about $78 million nationwide this round.

Applications will be evaluated on six outcome criteria, economic analysis, project readiness, and statutory requirements. The six outcome criteria are: (1) safety; (2) state of good repair; (3) economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; (4) climate change, resilience, and the environment; (5) equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and (6) innovation areas: technology, project delivery, and financing.

Applicants that wish to submit the same application to be considered for more than one grant program under the MPDG combined NOFO only need to submit their application through one Grants.gov opportunity number and that application will be considered for all programs for which it is not opted-out or ineligible. It is not necessary to submit multiple of the same application under the other MPDG Grants.gov opportunities.

Background
The Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural) was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas. This is aimed at increasing connectivity, improving the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generating regional economic growth while improving quality of life. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides approximately $1.7 billion for Rural over 5 years, of which approximately $780 million will be made available through this NOFO. At least 90% of rural funding must be awarded in amounts of $25 million or more.

Grant Details
The Department is combining three major discretionary grant programs and two fiscal years of funding into one Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity to reduce the burden for state and local applicants and increase the pipeline of “shovel-worthy” projects that are now possible because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural) will support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas. It is a highly competitive program. Applications will be evaluated on six outcome criteria, economic analysis, project readiness, and statutory requirements.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include a State or a group of States; a metropolitan planning organization or a regional transportation planning organization; a unit of local government; a political subdivision of a State; a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; a Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments; Federal land management agency that applies jointly with a State or group of States; a partnership between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described above; a group of entities described above. Eligible project types include highway or bridge projects on designated networks, freight intermodal or rail projects, railway-highway grade separation or elimination projects, intercity passenger rail projects, public transportation projects eligible under Chapter 53 of title 49, wildlife crossing projects, surface transportation projects within international border crossings, marine highway corridor projects connected to specific networks, highway, bridge, or freight projects on designated networks supporting rural area economies, integrated mobility management system projects, transportation demand management system projects, on-demand mobility services.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for this grant opportunity spans over five years from FY 2022 through FY 2026.

Grant Value
It is anticipated that this opportunity will award approximately $5.1 billion for this round from FY 2025 and FY2026 funding. INFRA: $2.7 billion Mega: $1.7 billion Rural: $780 million
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Overview

Agency
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Category of Funding
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
20.938 - Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
True
Source
Grants.gov
On 3/25/24 the Department of Transportation posted grant opportunity RSTGP-25-26-RURAL for Rural Surface Transportation Grant Progam with funding of $780.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 20.938 Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program.

Timing

Posted Date
March 25, 2024, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
May 6, 2024, 12:00 a.m. EDT Past Due
Last Updated
March 25, 2024, 8:05 p.m. EDT
Version
2
Archive Date
Sept. 30, 2024

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
Eligible applicants for Rural grants are: 1. a State; 2. a regional transportation planning organization; 3. a unit of local government; 4. a tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments; or 5. a multijurisdictional group of entities above. For Rural, States are defined to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.Eligible project types for Rural grants are:1. A highway, bridge, or tunnel project eligible under National Highway Performance Program 2. A highway, bridge, or tunnel project eligible under Surface Transportation Block Grant 3. A highway, bridge, or tunnel project eligible under Tribal Transportation Program 4. A highway freight project eligible under National Highway Freight Program 5. A highway safety improvement project, including a project to improve a high-risk rural road as defined by the Highway Safety Improvement Program 6. A project on a publicly-owned highway or bridge that provides or increases access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or intermodal facility that supports the economy of a rural area 7. A project to develop, establish, or maintain an integrated mobility management system, a transportation demand management system, or on-demand mobility servicesPlease note that any projects on local roads or rural minor collectors must qualify as “providing or increasing access to an agricultural, commercial, energy, or intermodal facility that supports the economy of a rural area.”

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$780,000,000
Floor
Not Listed
Estimated Program Funding
$780,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
Not Listed

Contacts

Contact
Paul Baumer Grantor
Contact Email
mpdgrants@dot.gov
Contact Phone
(202) 366-1092
Additional Information Site
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/rural-surface-transportation-grant-program

Documents

Posted documents for RSTGP-25-26-RURAL

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