The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched the DOT Navigator, a new online resource designed to help communities identify federal grant and technical assistance opportunities. The DOT Navigator tool includes:
- A NEW rural eligibility mapping tool, helping potential applicants to verify whether their region would qualify as urban or rural for various different USDOT programs
- A searchable database of technical assistance opportunities
- A variety of grant application resources
Funding Opportunities
- USDOT is accepting applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding for projects of regional or national significance. This funding supports three major discretionary grant programs (INFRA, Mega, and Rural) that involve surface transportation projects designed to strengthen supply chains, spur economic development, and improve safety and daily life. Applications for funding through the Rural, INFRA, and Mega grants are being solicited together under a single opportunity titled the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. ET on August 21, 2023. Applicants can find the NOFO, Frequently Asked Questions, webinar recordings, and other helpful resources here.
- The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026. The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety. The SMART Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is open now and can be found on the SMART Grants Program website. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, to the Valid Eval submission website. This funding opportunity is open to public sector entities seeking to carry out transportation projects that demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas:
- Coordinated automation
- Connected vehicles
- Sensors
- Systems integration
- Delivery/logistics
- Innovative aviation
- Smart grid
- Traffic signals
USDOT also hosted a “How to Apply for an FY23 SMART Grant” webinar on Thursday, August 17. During the webinar, USDOT staff provided an overview of the SMART Grants Program, information about the application process, and themes from successful applications received during the first year of the program. The webinar recording will be available here.
