Infrastructure investments awarded to 41 projects in 43 U.S. states

The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) has announced 41 projects that are to receive nearly $500 million in discretionary grant funding for rail, road, transit and maritime projects.

These grants are awarded through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programme.

“TIGER grants are targeted investments for our local communities that will increase safety, create jobs and modernise our country’s infrastructure,” said Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Within this round of TIGER funding, 64 per cent – a historic number – was awarded to rural projects, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to supporting rural communities.

The primary selection criteria for TIGER awards include considerations for safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life and environmental sustainability for each project. Secondary criteria include innovation and partnerships.

The list included more than $100 million in grants for rail-related projects, which are listed below:

Repair of the Jaype – Lewiston rail line, Clearwater County, Idaho

$3,240,960 has been granted to repair three bridges along the rail line from Jaype – Lewiston and five washouts along the 30-mile long Jaype line, alongside the removal of debris from 18 bridges.

Mid-Atlantic multi-modal transportation hub, Baltimore County, Maryland

$20,000,000 has been approved for the build of a state-of-the-art cargo-handling facility at the Sparrows Point industrial facility in East Baltimore. This is part of a larger investment programme to repurpose a former steel manufacturing site with marine service into a multimodal logistics hub.

Securing multimodal freight corridors in the Ozarks, City of Fort Smith, Arkansas

$8,527,892 has been given to repair and rehabilitate three rail bridges that cross Clear Creek and the Arkansas River.

Wabash River rail bridge infrastructure revitalisation, Indiana Department of Transportation

$10,000,000 has been granted to replace two deteriorating rail freight approaches to the Wabash River bridge, which serves as a rail link from energy and agricultural suppliers of Illinois to river ports of Mt. Vernon, Indiana.

Southwest chief route stabilisation project, Colfax County, New Mexico

$16,000,000 has been approved to replace 60-year old bolted rail, associated turnouts and crossings for a net gain of 42 miles of Class 4 rail in the La Junta subdivision between Hutchinson, KS and Las Animas, CO.

High Plains strategic rail freight capacity improvement project, Oklahoma Department of Transportation

$9,901,793 has been given to implement a program of improvements to a Class III regional freight network accommodating unit trains of loaded 286,000-pound railcars and increase operating speeds. 

Bridging the valley: Barker Road grade separation project, City of Spokane Valley, Washington

$9,020,149 has been granted for the replacement of an existing level crossing at Barker Road with an overpass, the closing of a second level crossing at Flora Road and replacement of the intersection of Barker Road and Trent Avenue with a roundabout.

Route 3, Ramp A and bridge over rail lines, New Jersey Department of Transportation

$18,260,000 has been approved to replace the existing, structurally deficient Route 3 bridge over two rail lines and the nearby Ramp A adjacent the North Bergen Park and Ride Facility.

Alike to previous years, the TIGER grants are awarded on a competitive basis, for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region. The FY 2017 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million. There is an exception for projects located in rural areas where the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.