The Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $511 million to 46 transportation projects across the nation as part of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant program. According to DOT, a total of 848 project applications were received from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. With an overwhelming demand for TIGER funding, President Obama directed DOT to expedite the grant review process in November in an effort to stimulate the job creation and announce winners before the end of 2011 – much earlier than the anticipated spring 2012 announcement.
Today’s awards are the third in a series of TIGER grants, which were first implemented in 2009. TIGER grants are awarded to transportation projects that have national and regional impacts by improving existing transportation infrastructure, stimulating economic growth and promoting safe and environmentally sustainable transportations systems. Potential projects include: highway or bridge construction, public transportation initiatives, passenger and freight projects and port infrastructure investments.
According to DOT, today’s grant awards will fund various transportation initiatives in 33 states across the country. Specifically:
- Roughly $150 million will support projects in rural areas
- Roughly 48% of the total funding will support road and bridge projects
- Three grants were awarded to tribal governments to create jobs and address the critical transportation needs near Indian reservations
For a list of the TIGER III grantees, please click here.
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