TIGER Grant applications showcase demand nationwide

Written by jrood

The U.S. Department of Transportation received nearly 1,400 applications from all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia vying for a share of $1.5 billion the department will award for innovative transportation projects that show significant economic and environmental promise for the nation, a region, or metropolitan area, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

The TIGER (Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant program was
created by Congress to finance significant performance-driven projects and
those that involve multiple jurisdictions or modes. The TIGER program focuses
on longer-term, strategic infrastructure development along with the Economic
Recovery Act’s primary focus on immediate job creation.

"We have received an
outpouring of creative and innovative transportation project proposals from
across the country and we are excited to get started," said Secretary LaHood. "Through
the TIGER grants we will begin to seriously address the 21st century
transportation challenges of improving our environment, the livability of our
communities, enhancing safety while strengthening our economy."

Of the $57 billion in
TIGER grants requested, more than half of the applications are for highway or
bridge projects, with the rest of the applications focusing on transit,
railroad, port infrastructure, multimodal or other investments.

The Department of
Transportation has designed a rigorous evaluation process that will require
projects seeking over $100 million in federal funds to undertake an economic
benefit-cost analysis. The required analysis will consider factors such as fuel
and travel time savings, carbon emission reductions and economic and public
health benefits.

The Department of
Transportation also will use a cross-modal evaluation process where teams from
each of the major modes – highways, transit, rail, maritime and aviation – will
work together evaluating a broad cross-section of projects.

Grants may be awarded to
state and local governments, including U.S. territories, transit agencies, port
authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments and
multi-state or multi-jurisdictional applicants.

Projects selected will be
announced as soon as possible, but no later than February 17, 2010. The
Secretary has committed to announcing all of the projects by January. The TIGER
Discretionary Grants program was announced May 15, 2009.

More information about
grant applications can be found at
http://www.dot.gov/recovery/docs/tdgappoverview.pdf. A complete list of applications will be posted on
the U.S. Department of Transportation web site next week.

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