U.S. DOT Multimodal Project Discretionary Grants – Mega/INFRA/Rural

Description: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is offering a streamlined application for three grants as part of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program (MPDG).

  1. National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program: $1.8 billion is available nationally to support large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Eligible projects could include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national or regional significance. Funds can be used for development-phase activities and/or construction.
    • Special Considerations: 50% of funds are available for projects above $500 million in total cost, and 50% are available for projects between $100 million and $500 million in total cost.
    • Project Size*: Minimum $100 million.
    • Local Match: Up to 60% Mega-funds, 40% non-Mega share with total federal assistance not to exceed 80%.
  2. Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program: $3.1 billion is available nationally to award competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.  Eligible projects will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency, and hold the greatest promise to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements. Prioritizes Construction Projects.
    • Project Size*:
      • Large Projects: $100 million minimum; $25 million minimum award.
      • Small Projects: Less than $100 million; $5 million minimum award.
    • Local Match: Up to 60% INFRA-funds, 40% non-INFRA share with total federal assistance not to exceed 80%.
  3. Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) program: $675 million is available nationally to support projects that improve and expand our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas in order 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. Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area. Funds both Development-Phase Activities and Construction.
    • Special Considerations: 90% of rural funding must be awarded in $25 million or greater amounts.
    • Local Match: Up to 80% Rural-funds, other Federal assistance may satisfy the non-Rural share.

*When calculating minimum project size, some previously incurred expenses may count toward meeting the minimum project size requirement.

 

Network of Projects accepted (a single grant award for multiple projects addressing the same transportation problem)

 

Defining Rural: In CRCOG, projects located outside of the Hartford, CT Urban Area will be considered rural.

 

Application Deadline: August 21, 2023. 

Apply on Grants.gov. 

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.

Each applicant may submit 3 applications per grant program (Mega, INFRA, Rural) for a total limit of 9 applications.

 

U.S. DOT Webinar Series:

How to Apply Webinars

  1. TITLE: How to Apply for the MPDG Opportunity
    • June 29: 3:30-5:30pm EDT
    • Recording 
      • Passcode: $N2NyhLy
        • Please copy and paste the passcode as written.
    • Presentation
  1. TITLE: How to Apply for the MPDG Opportunity - Rural and Tribal Applicants, Areas of Persistent Poverty, and Historically Disadvantaged Communities
    • Date: July 6: 1-3pm EDT
    • Recording 
      • Passcode: s!4TYrsr
        • Please copy and paste the passcode as written.
    • Presentation

Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Webinars

  1. TITLE: How to Prepare a Benefit-Cost Analysis for the MPDG Opportunity
    • Date: July 11: 2-4pm EDT
    • Recording 
      • Passcode: Hq^tZ61^
        • Please copy and paste the passcode as written.
    • Presentation
    • Applications with a BCA of 1.5 or more will be rated "High"

 

This summary is based on a review of available information from the Program Webpage and the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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

 

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