Federal Transportation Grants

This grant provides funding to state and local governments, tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to improve safety and reduce accidents involving large trucks and buses through various initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for managing travel, logistics, and training services that strengthen criminal justice systems and promote the rule of law in Africa and the Middle East.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $216 million in competitive grants under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (FSRC) (Federal Assistance Listing #20.532). FSRC makes funding available competitively to assist in the financing of capital, planning, and operating assistance for eligible ferry services. This is a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and announces the availability of FY 2024 funding for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program (Passenger Ferry Program), Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (LowNo Ferry Program), and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (Rural Ferry Program). All programs can be found under Federal Assistance Listing: 20.532. Federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5307(h)) authorizes FTA to award grants for passenger ferries through a competitive process. The Passenger Ferry Program provides funding to designated recipients and direct recipients under FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Program, as well as public entities engaged in providing public transportation passenger ferry service in urban areas that are eligible to be direct recipients. Projects funded under the program will improve the condition and quality of existing passenger ferry services, support the establishment of new passenger ferry services, and repair and modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment. Section 71102 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also called the ‘‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’’ or ‘‘BIL’’) (Pub. L. 117–58) authorizes FTA to award grants for electric or lowemitting ferries through a competitive process, as described in this notice. The Low-No Ferry Program is available to any eligible designated or direct recipient of FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas funding, including States (including territories and Washington, DC), local governmental authorities, and tribal governments. Grants will be awarded under this program for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries, the electrification of or other reduction of emissions from existing ferries, and related charging or other fueling infrastructure (for which the applicants will maintain satisfactory continuing control) to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal operation. Section 71103 of the BIL authorizes FTA to award grants for the Rural Ferry Program through a competitive process, as described in this notice. The Rural Ferry Program provides funding for capital, operating, and planning expenses to States and territories for ferry service to rural areas. Applicants to this program are required to have operated ferry public transportation service on a regular schedule at any time during the five-year period from March 1, 2015, to March 1, 2020, and operated at least one route segment of more than 50 sailing (nautical) miles between two rural areas. The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the USDOT Strategic Plan, Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in executive orders.1

This funding opportunity provides $8 million to support a four-year project that will enhance the U.S. shipbuilding workforce through international training partnerships, focusing on critical trades and promoting fair labor standards.

This grant provides funding to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for the design and construction of a new passenger rail station in Ettrick, Virginia, to improve rail infrastructure and accommodate increasing ridership.

The Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps support FTAs mission of improving public transportation for Americas communities by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning around a new fixed guideway or core capacity improvement project. Per statute, any comprehensive or site-specific planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

This program funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 22907. The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors. This program invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety, support economic vitality (including through opportunities for small businesses), create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, increase capacity and supply chain resilience, apply innovative technology, and explicitly address climate change, gender equity and racial equity. The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for the competitive CRISI Program provided in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, division L, title I, Public Law 117–328 (2023 Appropriation), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, division F, title I, Public Law 118–42 (2024 Appropriation) and the 2023 and 2024 advance appropriation in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, division J, title II, Public Law 117–58 (2021).

This funding opportunity is designed for non-U.S.-based research entities to develop innovative AI technologies that improve maritime security through enhanced scene perception for unmanned vessels in complex marine environments.

The Small Community Program was established by the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. No. 106-181), reauthorized by the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. No. 108-176), and subsequently reauthorized by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112-95) as amended, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017 (Pub. L. No. 115-63), the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-254) (FAA 2018), and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Pub L. No. 118-63, May 16, 2024 (FAA 2024). The program is codified at 49 U.S.C. 41743. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to small communities to help them enhance their air service. The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the USDOT Strategic Plan, Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in executive orders.[1] The Department provides this assistance in the form of grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable basis. The Small Community Program is authorized to receive appropriations under 49 U.S.C. 41743(e)(2). Appropriations are provided for this program for award selection in FY 2023 pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328).[2] B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION No more than four communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, from the same State may be selected to participate in the program in any fiscal year. No more than 40 communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, may be selected to participate in the program in each year for which the funds are appropriated. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete. Pursuant to the authorities described above, the Department will make up to $12 million available for FY 2023 grant awards to carry out this program. There is no minimum or maximum individual award amount, and the amounts awarded will vary depending upon the features and merits of the selected applications. In past years, the Departments individual grant sizes have ranged from $20,000 to nearly $1.6 million. Funding amounts made available for reimbursement may be impacted by future limitations placed on the spending authority and appropriations enacted for the Department. The Department may, at its discretion, issue partial funding awards up to the level authorized and provided that the above conditions are met. Additional information on the budget process may be found in OMB A-11: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars/. Finally, as more fully discussed in Section E.1.a below, the Department intends to award FY 2023 grants for durations of three years to complete studies, four years for marketing and promotion (including advertising and public relations) of the airport, community, carrier, or destination, and five years for projects that target a revenue guarantee, subsidy, or other financial incentives. .

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state authorities for developing and improving programs that prevent damage to underground pipelines during excavation activities.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $2.5 million of Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024 funds to establish a Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center (CCAM TA Center) that supports CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation access for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to the City of Belvidere, Illinois, for essential improvements to its rail infrastructure, enhancing safety and efficiency in freight and passenger rail services.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nations critical infrastructure against potential terrorist attacks. The IBSGP provides funds to intercity bus companies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the travelling public from acts of terrorism. For FY 2024, DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration to building a national culture of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks. The threat profile has changed in the last two decades we now face continuous cyber threats by sophisticated actors, threats to soft targets and crowded places, threats to our democratic election process and threats from new and emerging technologies. That said, information sharing and cooperation between state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities, and federal agencies, including all DHS officials, is just as vital, and perhaps even more vital, today. Therefore, for FY 2024, we have identified two priority areas, related to some of the most serious threats that Amtrak should address with IPR funds. These two priorities areas include enhancing cybersecurity and enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places. DHS also will continue to forge partnerships to strengthen information sharing and collaboration in each of these priority areas. Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/.

This grant provides funding for eligible organizations to upgrade winter trails at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, enhancing military training access while promoting environmental protection and natural resource management.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state agencies for training, travel, and equipment purchases to enhance railroad safety inspections and enforcement of federal standards.

This grant provides funding to the Georgia Department of Transportation for upgrading bridges on the Heart of Georgia Railroad to improve safety and accommodate heavier freight loads.

This federal funding initiative provides financial support to state and territorial governments for implementing safety programs aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles.

This grant provides $12 million to the Connecticut Department of Transportation to improve the safety and efficiency of the New Haven Line rail corridor for both passenger and freight services.

This funding opportunity provides substantial financial support for projects that enhance domestic manufacturing and processing of battery materials, targeting companies and organizations focused on improving U.S. energy independence and supply chains.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 50143 Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for Electrified Vehicles is a $50 million funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy, aimed at helping six eligible states with significant automotive workforces transition their small and medium manufacturers from producing traditional vehicles to electric vehicles, with the goal of supporting high-paying jobs and benefiting disadvantaged communities.