The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has officially opened the next round of Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants by issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the $900 million in available funds.
“These BUILD Transportation grants will provide needed infrastructure investment to better connect rural and urban communities around our nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
The available funding is less than the $1.5 billion available in FY18 and is a result of a budget deal struck last February. During the last BUILD round, transit projects were awarded approximately $195 million in funds.
For this round of BUILD grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million and no more than $90 million can be awarded to a single state. Additionally, 50 percent of BUILD grants in this round will be awarded to rural areas that align with the grant's selection criteria. That criteria includes projects that encompass safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, state of good repair, innovation and partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders. USDOT says the FY 2019 BUILD program’s selection criteria gives special consideration to projects that emphasize improved access to reliable, safe, and affordable transportation for communities in rural areas.
USDOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY19 BUILD grant application process to provide technical assistance. Details and registration information regarding these webinars will be made available at www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants/outreach.
Applicants have until July 15, 2019 for projects to be considered for an award.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
