The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program aims to invest in surface transportation with significant local or regional impacts and support projects that improve safety, economic strength, global competitiveness, equity, and climate and sustainability. Program funds are authorized through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). There are two primary project types: 1. Capital Projects; and 2. Planning Projects.
Program goals align with the Department’s Strategic Plan and Executive Orders seeking to fund projects that address environmental justice and the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities, as well as increase equitable access to project benefits.
Key Updates | U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of the Secretary |
Funding Opportunity | Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program – FY2024 |
NOFO Release Date | 11/30/2023 |
Application Due Date | 02/28/2024 by 11:59 p.m. EST via www.Grants.gov |
# of Programs | 1. Capital projects 2. Planning Projects |
Total Funding Available | $1,500,000,000 |
Award Minimum | Capital Grants (Urban Areas): $5,000,000 Capital Grants (Rural Areas): $1,000,000 |
Award Maximum | Capital and Planning Grants: $25,000,000 |
Recipient Cost-Share/Match Requirements: | Applicants must provide at least 20% of the total project costs via non-Federal matching contributions. *Projects located in a rural area, a historically disadvantaged community, or an area of persistent poverty may not require the predetermined minimum cost-share contribution. |
Summary |
Eligible Projects (not limited to): |
Eligible Applicants | · State; District of Columbia; any Territory or possession of the U.S. · Unit of Local Government · Transit Agency · Federally recognized Indian Tribe or Consortium of such Indian Tribes · Multi-State or Multi-Jurisdictional Groups of Entities (separately eligible) · Public Agency or Publicly Chartered Authority (established by one or more states) · Special Purpose District or Public Authority (with a transportation function) Multiple states or jurisdictions may submit a joint application and should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact and primary recipient of the award. *Applicants may submit a total of three (3) applications |
Special Consideration | Each applicant selected for RAISE funding must demonstrate an effort to consider climate change and environmental justice impacts, housing affordability impacts, racial equity, creation of good-paying jobs, and physical/cyber security risks. Urban = an area with a population greater than 200,000 in the 2020 Census. Rural = an area outside a Census-designated urban area, as defined. Applicants are encouraged to use the Department’s Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer to describe how their project area is experiencing transportation-related disadvantages. |
Notes | The Department will evaluate whether the application uses data-driven and evidence-based methods to demonstrate that the project will provide the anticipated benefits to the following required merit criterion: (1) safety; (2) environmental sustainability; (3) quality of life; (4) mobility and community connectivity; (5) economic competitiveness and opportunity, including tourism; (6) state of good repair; (7) partnership and collaboration; and (8) innovation. Funding Restrictions: · Up to $750M allocated to rural projects. · Up to $750M allocated to urban projects. · At least $75M allocated to planning awards. · At least $15M allocated to projects located in areas of persistent poverty and historically disadvantaged communities (Defined in Section C.5 of NOFO) |
Contact Information | Title: RAISE Program Staff Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation Email / Phone: RAISEgrants@dot.gov / (202) 366-9603 (Andrea Jacobson) Website: www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-application-faqs *DOT will regularly post answers to questions and requests for clarification on the FAQ website |