Update

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competitive Grants

Bay Area surface transportation projects can compete for their share of roughly $100 billion in grant funding guaranteed by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). MTC spearheaded a Bay Area Infrastructure Grants strategy to maximize the Bay Area’s share of these new federal resources, and ensure that new federal funds can meaningfully advance the goals of Plan Bay Area 2050.

Credit
Karl Nielsen

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Grants at a Glance

Bay Area transportation projects large and small could move from plan to completion with competitive grant funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL authorizes $140 billion in new grant funding for which Bay Area surface transportation projects can compete. Of this, roughly $100 billion is guaranteed, with the rest dependent on allocations from future federal spending bills. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will distribute funds over five years through more than two dozen targeted competitive grant programs.

In addition to huge dollar amounts, the focus of the grant programs reflects many of the Plan Bay Area 2050 priorities, and in general, the selection criteria are Bay Area-friendly.

Competing for Federal Grants

However, competition for these limited funds will be fierce. Regional coordination will help the Bay Area stand tall against the nation’s biggest metro areas. This is especially true as we seek grants from the larger-scale, regionally and nationally significant project-focused programs. That’s why MTC worked with partners across the region to develop the Bay Area Infrastructure Grants Strategy.

This coordinated regional strategy aims to maximize our share of these grant funds by:

  • Prioritizing a short list of regionally significant projects and programs that target the largest and most nationally competitive grants
  • Using a local lens to rank the roughly 20 remaining grant programs, since they are oriented more toward local priorities
  • Coordinating with other state, regional and local partners to focus advocacy behind Bay Area priorities

Resources

BIL Competitive Transportation Grants Administered by USDOT

Transit & Intercity Rail Expansion and Modernization: $50 Billion - $70 Billion

Transit & Intercity Rail Expansion and Modernization: $50 Billion - $70 Billion
Program Name Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions) Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions) Description Funding Availability Regional or Local Prioritization
Capital Investment Grants* $23,000 $18,000 Major Transit Capital Projects Rolling applications Regional
Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (Outside Northeast Corridor) $19,500 $12,000 Intercity Rail Rehab, Improvement, Expansion Closed; Next NOFO TBA. Regional
Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) $10,000 $5,000 Intercity Rail Safety, Efficiency, Reliability. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in August. Closed; Next NOFO Expected March 2024. Regional
Railroad Crossing Elimination Program $5,500 $3,000 Railway Grade Separation Projects Closed; NOFO Expected Spring 2024. Regional
Low- and Zero-Emission Bus Program $5,600 $5,600 Low-No Emission Bus Fleets and Infrastructure. More details: federalregister.gov NOFO: Applications Due April 25, 2024. Regional
All Stations Accessibility Program $1,750 $1,750 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Rail Station Improvements. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in July. NOFO: Applications Due January 30, 2023. Local
Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement $1,500 $1,500 Rail Rolling Stock. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in July. Closed, Next NOFO TBA. Local
Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities $2,341 $2,341 Bus and Bus Facility Procurements. More details: transit.dot.gov NOFO: Applications Due April 25, 2024. Regional
Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Program $500 $250 Low-No Emission Ferries/Retrofits. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in June. Closed; Next NOFO Expected March 2024. Local
Federal Transit Administration Discretionary Ferry Program $150 $150 Low-No Emissions Ferries/Retrofits. Closed, Next NOFO TBA. Local

Nationally Significant Mobility & Goods Movement: $16 Billion - $26 Billion

Nationally Significant Mobility & Goods Movement: $16 Billion - $26 Billion

Program Name

Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions)

Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions)

Description

Funding Availability

Regional or Local Prioritization

MEGA (National Infrastructure Project Assistance)

$15,000

$5,000

Major Projects over $500M (With Exceptions). More details: transportation.gov

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Regional

INFRA

$8,000

$8,000

Highway Freight, Rail Grade Separations. More details: transportation.gov

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Regional

Port Infrastructure Development Program

$2,250

$2,250

Various Port Safety/Reliability/Efficiency Projects. More details: maritime.dot.gov

NOFO: Applications due April 30, 2024.

Regional

Reduce Truck Emissions at Port Facilities

$400

$400

Port Emissions Reductions Projects

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Regional

Congestion Relief Program

$250

$250

Deployment and Operation of Congestion Management Strategies

TBA

Local

Safety, Equity, Resilience & Other Local Priority Projects: $16 Billion - $25 Billion

Safety, Equity, Resilience & Other Local Priority Projects: $16 Billion - $25 Billion

Program Name

Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions)

Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions)

Description

Funding Availability

Regional or Local Prioritization

ATTAIN Grants

TBD

TBD

Deploy, install and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity and infrastructure return on investment

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Local

RAISE (Local & Regional Project Assistance)

$15,000

$7,500

Local and Regional Surface Transportation Priorities. More details: transportation.gov

Closed, Next NOFO TBA

Local

Safe Streets & Roads for All

$6,000

$5,000

Vision Zero Planning and Implementation

NOFO: Applications due April 4, May 16, August 2.

Local

PROTECT Resilience Grants

$1,400

$1,400

Transportation Resilience Planning and Project Implementation

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Regional

Reconnecting Communities

$1,000

$1,000

Removing or Retrofitting Highways to Restore Community Connectivity

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Local

SMART Grants

$1,000

$500

Demonstration Projects Utilizing Innovative Technology to Improve Transportation Efficiency and Safety. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in September.

Closed, Next NOFO Expected Spring 2024.

Local

Intelligent Transportation Systems Program

$550

$550

Intelligent Transportation Systems Projects, Including Connected/Autonomous Vehicles

TBA

Local

Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program

$350

$350

Road Safety Program to Mitigate Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Local

Technology & Innovation Deployment Program

$550

$550

Funding efforts to accelerate the implementation and delivery of new innovations and technologies that result from highway research and development to benefit all aspects of highway transportation

TBA

Local

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program

$1000

$0

Projects that connect active transportation infrastructure

TBA

Local

Healthy Streets Program

$500

$0

Projects that reduce the Urban Heat Island/increase air quality

TBA

Local

Stopping Threats on Pedestrians

$25

$0

Traffic barrier install

TBA

Local

Emerging Technology Research Pilot Program

$25

$0

Conduct emerging technology research

TBA

Local

Open Challenge & Research Proposal Pilot Program

$75

$0

Research grants for needs or challenges determined by OST

TBA

Local

Bridge & Highway: $17 Billion - $20 Billion

Bridge & Highway: $17 Billion - $20 Billion

Program Name

Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions)

Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions)

Description

Funding Availability

Regional or Local Prioritization

Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program

$2,000

$2,000

Road and Bridge Projects Outside UZAs Greater than $200,000. More details: transportation.gov

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Regional

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants

$2,500

$2,500

Alternative Fueling Infrastructure

Closed, Next NOFO TBA.

Local

Bridge Investment Program

$15,800

$12,500

Bridge Replacement, Rehab, Preservation, Protection. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in May.

NOFO: Applications Due March 19, 2024/ November 1, 2024/ November 1, 2025.

Regional (Large Bridges); Local (Small Bridges)

* This assumes Congress maintains its historic commitment of approximately $2 billion per year in annual appropriations; Supplemental $8 billion in upfront stimulus.