New federal transportation department grants designed to help communities reconnect by easing infrastructure barriers and promoting safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is administering two new grant programs which will award a total of $1.195 billion in grants to state, local and tribal entities for projects. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program is intended to reconnect communities harmed by transportation infrastructure, through community supported planning activities and capital construction projects championed by those communities. The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program is focused on improving road safety through funding of incremental and specific projects.

The RCP program will provide technical assistance and capital funding for transportation projects to address infrastructure barriers and restore community connectivity. The program is designed to support and engage economically disadvantaged communities to increase affordable, accessible and multimodal access to daily destinations like jobs, healthcare, grocery stores, schools, places of worship, recreation and park space.

The deadline for applying for an RCP grant is Oct. 13, 2022.

While the RCP is more barrier infrastructure and community outreach-focused, the SS4A program is a new DOT program offering $1 billion per year over five years, starting in 2022. The program funds transportation safety efforts for projects that prevent deaths and serious injuries.

The deadline for applying for this grant is Sept. 15, 2022.

Overview of RCP program
An “eligible facility” under the RCP includes a highway or other transportation facility that creates a barrier to community connectivity – including barriers to mobility, access or economic development – due to high speeds, grade separations or other design factors. Eligible facilities include:

• Limited access highways
• Viaducts
• Other principal arterial facilities
• Transit lines
• Rail lines
• Gas pipelines
• Airports

Merit criteria
Projects should address each of the merit criteria: equity, environmental justice and community engagement, mobility and community connectivity, and community-based stewardship, management and partnerships. RCP planning grants may range from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Capital construction grants may range from $5 million to $100 million.