Our RAISE grants are putting over $1 billion into infrastructure projects.
Here’s what that could look like.
The Department announced this week a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $1 billion in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grants program for Financial Year (FY) 2021. The RAISE program, previously known as BUILD and TIGER, has awarded over $8.9 billion in grants to projects in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico since 2009.
RAISE is an extremely popular program, with over 9700 applications over time, which have lead to 680 projects funded. It is one of the few DOT discretionary programs for which regional and local governments can directly compete for multimodal transportation funding. Funds are allocated equitably to urban and rural areas, allowing large and small communities to both benefit from this infrastructure investment.
DOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY 2021 RAISE grant application process to provide technical assistance to potential applicants. To register for the webinars visit www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach. The deadline to submit an application is July 12, 2021 at 5pm Eastern.
Below are a few examples of past projects that have received funding. A full list of past funded projects can be viewed here.
Tonto Creek Bridge Project (2020)
Gila County — Tonto Basin, Arizona
Grant Funding: $21,095,564
Estimated Total Project Costs: $24,479,014
The project replaces an at-grade dirt road that crosses Tonto Creek with a bridge between Old State Highway 188 and Greenback Valley Road in Tonto Basin. The project also widens and improves approximately 1.5 miles of Old State Highway 188 connecting to the bridge.
Tampa Multimodal Network and Safety Improvements (2020)
City of Tampa — Tampa, Florida
Grant Funding: $24,000,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $30,000,000
The project will complete approximately 12 miles of contiguous multi-modal path separated from vehicle traffic, with complete streets and traffic calming improvements. The project will connect downtown Tampa, the University of Tampa, West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Bayshore, Hyde Park and Ybor City with multimodal paths, complete streets and under bridge/over water segments, site work, new pavement, guard rails, lighting, landscaping, and seawall repair.
Lexington Train Station (2020)
City of Lexington — Lexington, North Carolina
Grant Funding: $24,960,534
Estimated Total Project Costs: $40,910,534
The project constructs a multimodal passenger rail and bus station in Lexington’s Depot District, replaces the 7th Avenue at-grade rail crossing with a grade-separated rail crossing at 5th Avenue, and makes track improvements between the two components.
Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements Project (2020)
Teton County — Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Driggs, Idaho
Grant Funding: $20,000,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $28,397,661
This project will implement a series of multimodal improvements along the Idaho 33/Wyoming 22 corridor between Driggs, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming including the development of two transit centers; a park-and-ride facility; completion of approximately 8.5 miles of missing links in the pathway network; transit signal prioritization; purchase of four regional commuter buses and two electric local buses; and highway upgrades.
Southern Illinois Multi-Modal Station (SIMMS) (2019)
Carbondale, Illinois
Grant Funding: $13,986,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $17,482,500
The project will fund the design and construction of a new multi-modal transportation center in downtown Carbondale as well as the demolishing of the existing Amtrak station. The project will also include ADA-compliant facilities that provide safe accommodation for motorized and non-motorized transportation users to connect to other modes of transportation.
Traffic Safety and Mobility Improvements — Phase 1 (2018)
South-central Maine
Grant Funding: $8,241,100
Estimated Total Project Costs: $16,482,200
This project will replace or enhance approximately 101 traffic signals statewide. Some of the signal systems will have adaptive signal technology, dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), infrared camera detection, fiber interconnect wiring, emergency pre-emption, back-plates with reflective striping, communication to the traffic management center, accessible.
Closing the Gap in New England: Western Massachusetts Freight Rail Upgrade (2018)
Monson to Northfield, Massachusetts
Grant Funding: $10,800,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $30,000,000
The project will upgrade a section of the New England Central Railroad across Massachusetts to meet the 286,000lb national standard. Project components include the installation of approximately 31 miles of continuous welded rail, replacement of ties and ballast, track surfacing, and strengthening approximately 20 bridges.
Wabash River Rail Bridge Infrastructure Revitalization (2017)
Posey County, Indiana and White County, Illinois
Grant Funding: $10,000,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $20,000,000
Estimated Non-Federal Funding: $10,000,000
The project will replace two deteriorating freight rail approaches to the Wabash River Bridge, which serves as a rail link from energy and agricultural suppliers of Illinois to river ports of Mt. Vernon, Indiana.
Houston Roadway Flood Warning System (2017)
Houston, Texas
Grant Funding: $9,370,000
Estimated Total Project Costs: $14,410,000
Estimated Non-Federal Funding: $5,040,000
The project will consist of approximately 40 new and reconstructed Flood Warning System (FWS) locations. Intelligent Transportations Systems (ITS) devices will be deployed at each of these locations and include high water sensors, master stations, advance roadside yellow flashers where appropriate; approach overhead red flashers on signal mast arms over the travel lanes; and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. Additionally, improvements will be made at approximately 27 existing locations and 12 existing underpass pump stations within the City of Houston. The project will provide roadway users better visibility of an approaching high-water event; transmit route conditions through Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and mobile communications with online flood warning system access to data and alerts; provide autonomous flood warning system capability in the event of a power outage with battery backup power at FWS locations; improve monitoring capability for emergency and maintenance actions at flood prone underpasses; prevent underpass flooding due to stormwater back flow from bayous into the underpasses; and provide real-time traveler high water and alternative route information to the public.
I-579 Cap Urban Connector Project: Bridging a Critical Gap to Revitalize the Hill District (2016)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Grant Funding: $19,000,000
The project will construct a cap over a below-grade portion of Interstate 579 in downtown Pittsburgh. The cap will include new open space and pedestrian and bicycle connections between downtown and the Hill District. It includes improvements to nearby streets, sidewalks, and crosswalks. It also includes a new bus stop, bike-sharing station, and ADA-compliant walkways.
First/Last Mile Connections: Improving Community Access to Regional Opportunities (2016)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Grant Funding: $20,000,000
The project will implement Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) Phase I First/Last Mile Strategy Implementation plan to improve connectivity and access to UTA’s transit system. The project includes building network connections, including cross-walks, trail connections, sidewalks, and bike lanes; and spot treatments such as bus shelters, ADA accessible pads, sidewalk condition improvements, curb extensions and cuts, raised crosswalks, HAWK beacons, detectable bicycle and pedestrian warnings, painted or protected bike lanes, improved wayfinding, additional bike share stations, street and station lighting, bike parking, and bike maintenance kiosks.
