Grants & Programs

Discretionary program funding to plan for and strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. Funds available for planning and construction.

• Applications due August 18, 2023 (NOFO)
• Eligible applicants: State or political subdivision of a State, MPO, local government, special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, Indian Tribe, Federal land management agency that applies jointly with a State or group of States, multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities. 
  • Grant Webpage

Discretionary program funding for projects to improve the condition of bridges and culverts and the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridges.

• Planning Grants – Applications due July 25, 2022 (NOFO) (Awards announced Oct 12, 2022)
• Capital Projects – Applications due Sept 8, 2022
• Eligible Applicants: State, MPO, local government, political subdivision, public authority, FLMA, Tribal government, group of eligible applicants.

Discretionary program funding to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment.

• Applications due Nov 18, 2022 (NOFO)
• FHWA anticipates awarding no less than 5, and no more than 10 awards annually
• Eligible applicants: State, MPO, transit agencies, local government, political subdivision of a State or local government, group of eligible applicants.

Discretionary program funding regional, local, and tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Funding is available to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and the implementation of projects identified within the action plan.

• NOFO
• Eligible applicants: MPO, political subdivisions of a State; Tribal government; groups of eligible entities

Click Here for More Information on SS4A

The Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program—newly enacted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—provides funding to a wide range of entities with a goal of improving safety and mobility of goods and people.

• 2022 NOFO
• Eligible applicants: State, political subdivision of a State, MPO, local government, Tribal government, public port authority, group of eligible entities.

Click here for more information on RCE

Provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects that will have a significant local or regional impact (aka Local and Regional Project Assistance).

• NOFO
• Eligible Applicants: States, Local Government, Public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; tribal government; transit agency; multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities.

Community Planning Grants: Discretionary program funding planning activities

for future construction projects and allow for innovative community planning to address

localized transportation challenges.

Capital Construction Grants: Discretionary program funding funding to carry out a project to remove, retrofit, mitigate, or replace an existing eligible dividing transportation facility with a new facility that reconnects communities; mitigates a burdening transportation facility that is a source of air pollution, noise, stormwater, heat, or other burdens; or implements a strategy to reduce environmental harm and/or improve access through transportation improvements. 

Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants: Discretionary program funding to a project led by two or more eligible applicants to address a persistent regional challenge related to equitable access and mobility. Eligible activities for Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants are the same as those listed under Capital Construction and Community Planning Grants but must have a regional focus, and clearly demonstrate regional coordination and leveraging of local, State, and Federal resources and policies.

• Formerly the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP), this program has been combined with the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program into a single joint NOFO under the grant program “Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods” (RCN)
• Eligible applicants: States; MPO; local government; nonprofit organizations; tribal government.
• Grant webpage

The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety. Includes planning and prototyping grants, and implementation grants.

• 2023 NOFO
• Eligible applicants: State, MPO, Political subdivision of a State; Public transit agency or authority; public toll authority; tribal government; group of eligible applicants.
• Grant webpage

Purpose: To advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities by supporting development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain USDOT credit and grant programs 

• Applications OPEN August 14, 2023 at 2pm ET (NOFO)
  • Funds are available on a first come first served basis
• There is no local funding match requirement, and there is no requirement for grantees to apply for other funding programs in the future
• Eligible Applicants: Rural local governments or political subdivisions (located outside of an urbanized area with a population of more than 150,000 residents), states, Tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
• Review copy of Online Application questions
• Grant webpage

Regional FHWA funding for transportation infrastructure projects. STBG funds are traditionally used for roadway maintenance and enhancement, but can also be used for bicycle, pedestrian, and transit projects.

Click Here for More Information on STBG

Regional FHWA funding for trails and other bike infrastructure, pedestrian improvements and other environmental activities associated with transportation projects.

Click Here for More Information on TAP

The Carbon Reduction Program is a new funding initiative under the IIJA which provides funds for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions, defined as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from on-road highway sources.

Click Here for More Information on CRP

Section 5310 is formula funding managed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and apportioned to the MAPA region annually. This funding must be used to provide transportation service for the elderly and people with disabilities. MAPA manages a competitive award process for paratransit service providers in the region.

Click Here for More Information on Section 5310

The Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program is a set-aside of funding for MAPA’s Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program. Projects funded through this program serve as a mechanism to move the Heartland 2050 Vision forward.

The Vision focuses on six goals to improve our quality of life and create a long-term vision in harmony with our people, places and resources. The goals include: Housing and Development, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources.

Click Here for More Information on Mini-Grants