The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program is accepting applications through Oct. 13.

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the pilot is aimed at connecting communities that have been cut off from economic opportunities due to previous transportation infrastructure projects. Grants are available to support the planning and capital construction of projects that restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation or replacement of eligible transportation infrastructure facilities.

State, local and tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofits and other transportation facility owners are eligible to apply. The program will distribute $1 billion over the course of five years, with $195 million to be awarded this year.

This year, $50 million will be awarded for planning grants. Such grants may be used to study the feasibility and impacts of potential projects as well as to fulfill design needs for potential projects.

Examples of eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Traffic pattern studies
• Transportation network capacity
• Alternative roadway designs
• Mobility impact assessments
• Safety assessments
• Economic and environmental impact assessments
• Public engagement activities

This year, $145 million is available for capital construction grants. Eligible projects include:
• Removal, retrofitting or mitigation of an existing eligible facility
• Replacement of an eligible facility with a new facility that reconnects previously fragmented communities and is sensitive to the context of the surrounding community

Technical assistance will be made available to economically disadvantaged communities for applicants and grant recipients to build organizational or community capacity to engage in transportation planning and identify solutions to infrastructure challenges. The Department of Transportation plans to focus technical support on underserved, overburdened and disadvantaged community recipients that demonstrate need.

The Department of Transportation has scheduled an informational webinar on July 14 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, email ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov or contact Faith Hall at 202-366-9055.

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