U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN)

 

Description: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is offering a streamlined application for two grant programs, collectively known as Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN), to create plans and conduct projects to create greater connections and remove barriers in the transportation system.

Two Grant Programs:

  1. Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program: To restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation or replacement of highways, roadways or other infrastructure facilities that create barriers to mobility, access, or economic development. Helping disadvantaged communities is a priority.
    • Two Grant Types:
      1. Community Planning: Up to $50 million for planning activities to support construction projects that allow for innovative community planning to address localized transportation challenges.
        • Maximum Award: $2 million
        • Local Match: Minimum 20% non-Federal source.
      2. Capital Construction: Up to $148 million to fund both reconnecting-focused projects and smaller projects focused on reducing environmental harm and improving access in disadvantaged communities. Facility Owner must apply or be a Joint Applicant.
        • Minimum Award: $5 million
        • Local Match: RCP funds may not exceed 50%; other Federal assistance may be used to satisfy up to 80%; local match minimum 20% required.
  2. Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program: Funds planning, construction, and technical assistance for projects that improve walkability, safety, and affordable access; mitigate or remediate negative impacts on the human or natural environment from surface transportation facilities in disadvantaged communities; planning and capacity building activities in disadvantaged or underserved communities.

    • Three Grant Types:
      1. Community Planning: Up to $135 million for planning activities to support construction projects that allow for innovative community planning to address localized transportation challenges.
      2. Capital Construction: Up to $2.57 billion to fund both reconnecting-focused projects and smaller projects focused on reducing environmental harm and improving access in disadvantaged communities. Facility Owner must apply or be a Joint Applicant.
      3. Regional Partnerships Challenge: Up to $450 million is available to incentivize stronger partnerships between local governments, Tribal governments, MPOs/RPOs, State DOTs, and non-profit, private, and community partners to tackle persistent equitable access and mobility challenges, as well as greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
    • No Minimum or Maximum Awards
    • Local Match: Minimum 20% non-Federal source; may be no match required if project is in a disadvantaged or underserved community.

 

Disadvantaged Communities: A recent review of the Federal Government’s Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), the following municipalities in CRCOG include census tracts that meet the updated program definition of “economically disadvantaged communities”:

  1. East Hartford
  2. Enfield
  3. Hartford
  4. Manchester
  5. New Britain
  6. Vernon

 

Application Deadline: September 28, 2023 (11:59 pm);

Apply online at ValidEval, must select and register based on type of application:

Applicants for Federal grant programs must be registered in SAM.gov and have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Many municipalities are already have this; you may wish to contact your Administration to confirm if obtaining a UEI is necessary. More information about UEI registration is available from U.S. General Services Administration here.

Eligible Applicants: State, Municipalities, CRCOG, Others - partnerships are encouraged.

 

U.S. DOT Webinar Series:

  • Title: Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods – Tribal focus
  • Title: Interested in Applying? Reconnecting Communities Grant Program Overview for Prospective Applicants - Encore
  • Title: Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods – Rural/Nonprofit focus
  • Title: Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods – Capital Construction
  • Title: Interested in Applying? Reconnecting Communities Grant Program Overview for Prospective Applicants
  • Title: Benefit-Cost Analysis for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program

 

This summary is based on a review of available information from the Program Webpage and within the Notice of Funding Opportunity, dated July 5, 2023.

Please contact Elizabeth Sanderson, BIL Coordinator at CRCOG, with questions or if you would like additional information about this program.

 

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