The U.S. Department of Transportation opened applications last week for four major grant programs for infrastructure and transportation projects totaling about $7.5 billion.

On March 28, the DOT began accepting applications for three discretionary grant programs under the $5.1 billion Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program, followed March 29 by a more than $2.4 billion funding opportunity from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program. Funding for the four programs came from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in two separate statements that this round of MPDG programs will support infrastructure projects “so large, complex, and ambitious that they could not get funded under the infrastructure programs that existed prior to this administration," while the CRISI funding opportunity represents “the biggest funding round in history for the program that modernizes freight and intercity passenger rail infrastructure.”

The available funding includes:

• $1.7 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program, which invests in “large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility or safety benefits,” according to a DOT press release. Eligible projects include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail and public transportation projects of national or regional significance. 
• $2.7 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program. Eligible projects are those that will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency and work to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements.
• $780 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program. Eligible projects include highway, bridge and tunnel projects that provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area.
• Over $2.4 billion for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. Last year, CRISI grants went to 70 projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C., according to a DOT press release. The projects included bridge, track and grade crossing improvements along with investments in restoring and expanding intercity passenger rail corridors.

The application deadline is May 6 for MPDG programs and May 28 for CRISI grants.