USDOT Announces $500 Million in New Round of TIGER Funding

The United States Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) announced Tuesday that it will provide $500 million for an eighth round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery competitive grant program (the “TIGER program”). The TIGER program prioritizes innovative capital projects with a regional focus that generate economic development and improve access to reliable, safe, and affordable transportation. In previous rounds of the TIGER program, K&L Gates has helped clients navigate the highly competitive grant application process to secure funding for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure.

Since 2009, the TIGER program has received more than 67,000 applications, ultimately providing nearly $4.6 billion to 381 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The TIGER program has proven to be an effective opportunity to increase investment in regional infrastructure projects. Municipalities and transportation authorities with innovative multi-modal or multi-jurisdictional projects are encouraged to apply. USDOT has stated that over 40 percent of the last round of grants went to rural projects, the highest percentage since the program was created by the 2009 economic stimulus bill. The program awards grants to urban projects as well.

K&L Gates has more than 40 years of experience in transportation policy, representing clients on infrastructure matters before Congress and federal agencies and counseling clients on issues involving rail, aviation, shipping, surface transportation, ports, water, and mobility. Our team includes the former chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, three former Senate Commerce Committee transportation counsels, the former deputy staff director of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and chief of staff to the Chairman, a former assistant administrator for government affairs at the Federal Aviation Administration, and a former director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Highway Administration and deputy assistant administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Application information is available at www.transportation.gov/TIGER. Applications are due April 29, 2016.