USDoT launches INFRA grant programme to fund infrastructure projects

TINNews |

The US Department of Transportation (USDoT) has revealed details about the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant programme that will be offered through a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Through the new INFRA programme, USDoT will provide nearly $1.5bn for the projects, which are in line with the principles of administration to rebuild deteriorating infrastructure in the country.

INFRA has been designed to promote innovative safety solutions to improve the transportation system.

The programme will follow the statutory requirement in the FAST Act to award at least 25% percent of funding for rural projects.

The administration also has provision for additional financial scope for the highway and multimodal freight projects in rural areas, as the projects in these regions tend to exceed specified limits.

USDoT will be providing grants to small and large project under INFRA programme.

"Projects selected under this programme will be better able to make significant, long-term improvements to America’s transportation infrastructure."

A minimum of $25m grant will be provided for the large projects. For small projects, the department will be offering a minimum grant of $5m.

As well as providing direct federal funds for the infrastructure development, INFRA programme also intends to increase the total investment by the state, local, and private partners.

The INFRA programme has been built upon a pre-existing grant programme established in the FAST Act of 2015 and makes use of updated criteria to assess projects in order to align them with national and regional economic vitality goals and to leverage additional non-federal funding.

US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said: "The President and the department are committed to revitalising, repairing and rebuilding America’s ageing infrastructure.

"By ensuring the right incentives, projects selected under this programme will be better able to make significant, long-term improvements to America’s transportation infrastructure."

The new programme will increase the impact of projects by leveraging capital and allowing innovation in the project delivery and permitting processes, including public-private partnerships.