Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competitive Grants
Bay Area surface transportation projects can compete for their share of roughly $100 billion in grant funding guaranteed by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). MTC spearheaded a Bay Area Infrastructure Grants strategy to maximize the Bay Area’s share of these new federal resources, and ensure that new federal funds can meaningfully advance the goals of Plan Bay Area 2050.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Grants at a Glance
Bay Area transportation projects large and small could move from plan to completion with competitive grant funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL authorizes $140 billion in new grant funding for which Bay Area surface transportation projects can compete. Of this, roughly $100 billion is guaranteed, with the rest dependent on allocations from future federal spending bills. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will distribute funds over five years through more than two dozen targeted competitive grant programs.
In addition to huge dollar amounts, the focus of the grant programs reflects many of the Plan Bay Area 2050 priorities, and in general, the selection criteria are Bay Area-friendly.
Competing for Federal Grants
However, competition for these limited funds will be fierce. Regional coordination will help the Bay Area stand tall against the nation’s biggest metro areas. This is especially true as we seek grants from the larger-scale, regionally and nationally significant project-focused programs. That’s why MTC worked with partners across the region to develop the Bay Area Infrastructure Grants Strategy.
This coordinated regional strategy aims to maximize our share of these grant funds by:
- Prioritizing a short list of regionally significant projects and programs that target the largest and most nationally competitive grants
- Using a local lens to rank the roughly 20 remaining grant programs, since they are oriented more toward local priorities
- Coordinating with other state, regional and local partners to focus advocacy behind Bay Area priorities
Resources
- Map of the Bay Area’s BIL regional priority projects
- List of Bay Area regional priority projects and target grants
- A comprehensive list of BIL grants of interest is below, including regional grant targets and local prioritization grants
BIL Competitive Transportation Grants Administered by USDOT
Transit & Intercity Rail Expansion and Modernization: $50 Billion - $70 Billion
| Program Name | Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions) | Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions) | Description | Funding Availability | Regional or Local Prioritization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Investment Grants* | $23,000 | $18,000 | Major Transit Capital Projects | Rolling applications | Regional |
| Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (Outside Northeast Corridor) | $19,500 | $12,000 | Intercity Rail Rehab, Improvement, Expansion | Closed; Next NOFO TBA. | Regional |
| Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) | $10,000 | $5,000 | Intercity Rail Safety, Efficiency, Reliability. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in August. | NOFO: Applications Due May 28, 2024. | Regional |
| Railroad Crossing Elimination Program | $5,500 | $3,000 | Railway Grade Separation Projects | Closed; NOFO Expected Spring 2024. | Regional |
| Low- and Zero-Emission Bus Program | $5,600 | $5,600 | Low-No Emission Bus Fleets and Infrastructure. More details: federalregister.gov | NOFO: Applications Due April 25, 2024. | Regional |
| All Stations Accessibility Program | $1,750 | $1,750 | Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Rail Station Improvements. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in July. | NOFO: Applications Due January 30, 2023. | Local |
| Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement | $1,500 | $1,500 | Rail Rolling Stock. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in July. | Closed, Next NOFO TBA. | Local |
| Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities | $2,341 | $2,341 | Bus and Bus Facility Procurements. More details: transit.dot.gov | NOFO: Applications Due April 25, 2024. | Regional |
| Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Program | $500 | $250 | Low-No Emission Ferries/Retrofits. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in June. | Closed; Next NOFO expected April 2024. | Local |
| Federal Transit Administration Discretionary Ferry Program | $150 | $150 | Low-No Emissions Ferries/Retrofits. | Closed; Next NOFO expected April 2024. | Local |
Nationally Significant Mobility & Goods Movement: $16 Billion - $26 Billion
Program Name |
Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Description |
Funding Availability |
Regional or Local Prioritization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$15,000 |
$5,000 |
Major Projects over $500M (With Exceptions). More details: transportation.gov |
Regional |
||
$8,000 |
$8,000 |
Highway Freight, Rail Grade Separations. |
Regional |
||
$2,250 |
$2,250 |
Various Port Safety/Reliability/Efficiency Projects. More details: maritime.dot.gov |
Regional |
||
$400 |
$400 |
Port Emissions Reductions Projects |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Regional |
|
$250 |
$250 |
Deployment and Operation of Congestion Management Strategies |
Local |
Safety, Equity, Resilience & Other Local Priority Projects: $16 Billion - $25 Billion
Program Name |
Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Description |
Funding Availability |
Regional or Local Prioritization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD |
TBD |
Deploy, install and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity and infrastructure return on investment |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Local |
|
$15,000 |
$7,500 |
Local and Regional Surface Transportation Priorities. More details: transportation.gov |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA |
Local |
|
$6,000 |
$5,000 |
Vision Zero Planning and Implementation |
Local |
||
$1,400 |
$1,400 |
Transportation Resilience Planning and Project Implementation |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Regional |
|
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
Removing or Retrofitting Highways to Restore Community Connectivity |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Local |
|
$1,000 |
$500 |
Demonstration Projects Utilizing Innovative Technology to Improve Transportation Efficiency and Safety. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in September. |
Closed, Next NOFO Expected Spring 2024. |
Local |
|
Intelligent Transportation Systems Program |
$550 |
$550 |
Intelligent Transportation Systems Projects, Including Connected/Autonomous Vehicles |
TBA |
Local |
$350 |
$350 |
Road Safety Program to Mitigate Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Local |
|
Technology & Innovation Deployment Program |
$550 |
$550 |
Funding efforts to accelerate the implementation and delivery of new innovations and technologies that result from highway research and development to benefit all aspects of highway transportation |
TBA |
Local |
Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program |
$1000 |
$0 |
Projects that connect active transportation infrastructure |
Local |
|
Healthy Streets Program |
$500 |
$0 |
Projects that reduce the Urban Heat Island/increase air quality |
TBA |
Local |
Stopping Threats on Pedestrians |
$25 |
$0 |
Traffic barrier install |
TBA |
Local |
Emerging Technology Research Pilot Program |
$25 |
$0 |
Conduct emerging technology research |
TBA |
Local |
Open Challenge & Research Proposal Pilot Program |
$75 |
$0 |
Research grants for needs or challenges determined by OST |
TBA |
Local |
Bridge & Highway: $17 Billion - $20 Billion
Program Name |
Authorized Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Guaranteed Funding Amount (In Millions) |
Description |
Funding Availability |
Regional or Local Prioritization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$2,000 |
$2,000 |
Road and Bridge Projects Outside UZAs Greater than $200,000. |
Regional |
||
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
Alternative Fueling Infrastructure |
Closed, Next NOFO TBA. |
Local |
|
$15,800 |
$12,500 |
Bridge Replacement, Rehab, Preservation, Protection. Notice of Funding Opportunity expected in May. |
NOFO: Applications Due March 19, 2024/ November 1, 2024/ November 1, 2025. |
Regional (Large Bridges); Local (Small Bridges) |
* This assumes Congress maintains its historic commitment of approximately $2 billion per year in annual appropriations; Supplemental $8 billion in upfront stimulus.