DOT Announces TIGER Grant Funding; Requests Comments on Program Rules

Washington, May 18 — In a Federal Register notice today, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the availability of $1.5 billion in grant funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program, as well as interim rules on the operation of the program and a request for comments from transportation stakeholders. Applications for the new grant program, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5), are due Sept. 15, 2009. Comments on the newly issued program rules must be submitted by June 1, 2009.

In an accompanying DOT press release, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said TIGER grants will “promote greater mobility, a cleaner environment and more-livable communities.”

As a single program, TIGER resembles a microcosm of the activities that DOT regularly supports with a wide range of established grants. Eligible projects include highway or bridge work normally funded under programs like the Surface Transportation Program; public transportation projects, such as those funded by the New Starts or Small Starts program; passenger and freight rail infrastructure projects; and port infrastructure projects.

Eligible TIGER grantees include state, local, tribal and territorial government entities, such as transit agencies, port authorities and multijurisdictional coalitions. Award amounts will range from a minimum of $20 million to a maximum of $300 million, though DOT may waive the minimum threshold in the case of small projects.

And unlike most federal grant programs, which receive applications by mail or electronically through Grants.gov, DOT will only accept TIGER applications by e-mail, at TIGERGrants@dot.gov.

As more details about the program emerge, including any changes implemented by DOT in response to public comments submitted regarding today’s notice, stay tuned to the Economic Recovery Grants Center!

— Jim Patterson