Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement that $2.85 billion in competitive grant funds has been made available to support multimodal projects across the country, which can help improve the resiliency of our freight networks.
“Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, Ohio and our localities will have access to brand new and higher levels of existing funding opportunities for multimodal projects in our communities,” said Portman. “I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has streamlined the application process for applicants through this ‘common app’ approach and look forward to supporting Ohio applicants in obtaining these funds.”
The National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program (AKA “Mega”) is a brand new competitive grant program that will help fund for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects that have national or regional significance. Eligible projects include highway, bridge, fright, port, rail, and transit with national or regional significance with total costs greater than $500 million. The Department of Transportation will award 50 percent of the $1 billion available for this fiscal year to projects with $500 million or greater in total project costs and 50 percent to those projects between $100 million and $500 million in total project costs.
The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program provides funding for highway, freight, and multimodal projects. Prior to the bipartisan infrastructure law, this grant program typically received $1 billion in annual funding. Now, this program will see $1.55 billion this year, with a total of $8 billion for this program over the next five years. This means more projects across Ohio and the nation will have the opportunity to receive this critical assistance.
The brand new Rural Surface Transportation Program will provide up to $300 million in grant awards for Fiscal Year 2022 to support projects that improve and expand transportation infrastructure in rural areas. Eligible projects include highway, bridge and tunnel projects that improve freight movement, safety, and increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities to boost economic growth in rural areas. In total, this competitive grant program will see $2 billion in funding over the next five years.
To streamline the application process for applications, the Department of Transportation has released a combined notice of funding opportunity for the above grant programs. The deadline for applications is May 23, 2022.
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