Grant Opportunities

INFRA

The Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants program provides dedicated, discretionary funding for projects that address critical issues facing our nation’s highways and bridges. INFRA grants will support the Administration’s commitment to fixing our nation’s crumbling infrastructure by creating opportunities for all levels of government and the private sector to fund infrastructure, using innovative approaches to improve the necessary processes for building significant projects, and increasing accountability for the projects that are built.

RAISE

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grants program grants replaces the pre-existing BUILD and TIGER grant programs.  Projects for RAISE funding will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership. Within these criteria, the Department will prioritize projects that can demonstrate improvements to racial equity, reduce impacts of climate change and create good-paying jobs.

Transportation Alternatives

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways. For most TAP projects, the Federal share is the same as for the general Federal-aid highway program: 80 percent Federal/20 percent State or local match.

• Maryland’s Transportation Alternatives Program
• West Virginia’s Transportation Alternatives Program

Recreational Trails

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States for the development of community-based, motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects. The program provides funds for all kinds of recreational trail uses, such as pedestrian uses (hiking, running, wheelchair use), bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving. The RTP is an assistance program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). For most RTP projects, the Federal share is the same as for the general Federal-aid highway program: 80 percent Federal/20 percent State or local match.

• Maryland’s Recreational Trails Program
• West Virginia’s Recreational Trails Program

Federal Lands Access Program

The Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) was established in 23 U.S.C. 204 to improve transportation facilities that provide access to, are adjacent to, or are located within Federal lands. Eligible activities include transportation planning, research, engineering, preventive maintenance, rehabilitation, restoration, construction, adjacent vehicular parking areas, operation and maintenance of transit facilities, and any transportation project eligible for assistance under title 23.  The Access Program supplements State and local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities, with an emphasis on high-use recreation sites and economic generators.

Safe Routes to School

The Maryland Safe Routes to School grant program are federal-funded sustained efforts by community members and governments to enable and encourage children to safely walk or bicycle to school.  Funds can be used for engineering improvements, such as upgrades to crosswalks, traffic signals and signage around schools, as well as for educational and enforcement efforts.  Grants are distributed to state, local and regional agencies, as well as non-profit organizations.

Maryland Bikeways

The Maryland Bikeways grant program provides technical assistance and grant support for a wide range of bicycle network development activities. The Program supports projects that maximize bicycle access and fill missing links in the state’s bicycle system, focusing on connecting bicycle-friendly trails and roads and enhancing last-mile connections to work, school, shopping and transit. On-road bicycle projects, such as bike lane striping, sharrows, and wayfinding signage are eligible for funding. Off-road shared-use path and trail projects are also eligible for funding. Only public agencies are eligible to apply.

Bus & Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program

The FTA Bus & Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants.

Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities

The FTA Section 5310 Program (49 U.S.C. 5310) provides formula funding to states for the purpose of assisting private nonprofit groups in meeting the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. The program aims to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation service and expanding transportation mobility options.