Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Grants (RAISE)

About:

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the USDOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants, Congress has dedicated nearly $9.9 billion for thirteen rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact. 

 

In each competition, DOT receives hundreds of applications to build and repair critical pieces of our freight and passenger transportation networks. The RAISE program enables the USDOT to examine these projects on their merits to help ensure that taxpayers are getting the highest value for every dollar invested.

 

 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity:

The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the RAISE discretionary grant program on November 30, 2023.

 

Important NOFO details:

Eligible Applicants

  • State DOT

  • MPO

  • Local Gov’t

  • Tribes

  • Public Authority

  • Group of Entities listed above

 

Eligible Projects

  • Highway/bridge projects eligible under title 23

  • Public transportation projects

  • Passenger or freight rail projects

  • Port infrastructure investments

  • Surface transportation components of an airport

  • Projects for investment in surface transportation facilities on Tribal land

  • Projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or certain projects to prevent stormwater runoff

  • Any other surface transportation projects considered necessary to advance program goals

  • Planning, preparation or design 

 

Merit Criteria (initial level of review)

  • Safety

  • Environmental Sustainability

  • Quality of Life

  • Improves Mobility & Community Connectivity

  • Economic Competitiveness & Opportunity

  • State of Good Repair

  • Partnership & Collaboration

  • Innovation

Funding

  • $1.5B for FY2024

  • Urban project:

    • $5M-25M

    • 80% max Fed Share

  • Rural project:

    • All areas outside of Lincoln & Omaha

    • $1M-25M

    • Up to 100% Fed Share

Deadlines

  • 02/28/24 - Applications due

  • 09/30/28 - Obligation of funds due

  • 09/30/33 - Funds must be expended by

 

Additional Information

  • All applications must be submitted via grants.gov

    • Requires a UEI number and registration with SAM.gov

    • NOTE: SAM.gov registration takes a minimum of 2 weeks to complete

       

Changes for FY2024

  • Merit criteria rating rubric (Section E) was refined with more examples

  • Project Budget document for the Financial Completeness Review clarified

  • Data updated to determine Urban, Rural, and Areas of Persistent Poverty designations

 

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