The U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $1.5 billion in the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants for 2024.
The RAISE program helps project sponsors complete critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects.
The agency will split funding between rural and urban areas.
At least $15 million will be awarded to project located in Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities. These projects will be eligible for up to 100 percent federal cost share.
“Across the country, I have seen firsthand how projects funded by our RAISE program are helping communities realize long-held dreams and well-planned visions for better infrastructure,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
Applications are reviewed and evaluated on a variety of criteria including community connectivity, economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, mobility, opportunity,
safety, and quality of life.
The agency encourages applicants to consider how projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, or remove barriers to opportunity.
The application deadline is Feb. 28 with selections announced no later than June 27.
Last year, RAISE funding supported 162 projects in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The agency also intends to use the RAISE program to support job creation, wealth creation and lowering costs.