Filing Date:
Varies—contact your local U.S. DOT official to learn more.
Eligibility:
State, local, tribal and U.S. territories’ governments, including transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations and other political subdivisions of state or local governments.
Description:
The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact – including multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs.
The BUILD program was previously known as the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programs.
Funds may be requested for capital projects that include, but are not limited to: passenger and freight rail transportation projects; public transportation projects; intermodal projects; highway, bridge, or other road projects; and port infrastructure investments. Funds also may be requested for planning projects related to the planning, preparation or design of eligible surface transportation capital projects.
For example, the city of Niagara Falls, N.Y., received $16.5 million in TIGER II Discretionary Grants to complete the third and final phase of its international railway station. This phase relocated Amtrak’s passenger terminal from a site outside the city center to a downtown location. The passenger rail terminal accommodates multimodal operations (bus/taxi/park and ride, etc.). The project also improved freight and passenger rail efficiency by eliminating conflict points and addressing passenger safety concerns such as speeding border crossings into Canada.
Financing:
Individual awards can be $1 million-$25 million. In urban areas, the federal share is up to 80 percent of project costs, with a 20 percent local match. The federal share may increase to more than 80 percent for capital projects in rural areas or an Area of Persistent Poverty (APP) / Historically Disadvantaged Community (HDC).
Additional Information:
U.S. Department of Transportation – BUILD Discretionary Grants
Amtrak established the Great American Stations Project in 2006 to educate communities on the benefits of redeveloping train stations, offer tools to community leaders to preserve their stations, and provide the appropriate Amtrak resources.
Amtrak is seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform rail and Retrain Travel. By modernizing, enhancing and expanding trains, stations and infrastructure, Amtrak is meeting the rising demand for train travel. Amtrak offers unforgettable experiences to more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada. Learn more at