The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity to apply for $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2020 discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program.

 
"BUILD grants will upgrade infrastructure across America, making our transportation systems safer and more efficient," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Last November, Secretary Chao announced that the Trump Administration was awarding a historic $900 million in BUILD grants to 55 projects in 35 states, 50% of which went to projects in rural areas.

As the Trump Administration looks to continue to enhance America's infrastructure, FY 2020 BUILD Transportation grants are for planning and capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact, according to the press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation. Projects for BUILD will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership.

To better address the needs of rural America, which has historically been neglected, the DOT intends to again award 50% of BUILD Transportation grant funding to projects located in rural areas that deliver positive benefits for these communities, consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. initiative. For this round of BUILD Transportation grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, and no more than $100 million can be awarded to a single state, as specified in the appropriations act.

For more information: https://tinyurl.com/sds4e3k.