The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) have opened applications for grant programs in their individual states.
CTDOT
CTDOT has opened the seventh solicitation for the Community Connectivity Grant Program (CCGP), which provides state funding for municipal construction projects aimed at improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users in urban, suburban and rural communities.
“By investing in municipal infrastructure projects, we are empowering towns and cities to take charge of their development, creating pedestrian-friendly spaces through collaboration with residents, advocates and local officials,” said CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “These projects revitalize our downtown areas, increase foot traffic, support local businesses and elevate the overall quality of life for both residents and visitors.”
CTDOT says the State Bond Commission approved $12 million for 2025 CCGP projects in October. The funding will cover construction activities ranging from $100,000 to $800,000.
According to CTDOT, municipalities that previously received funding under the CCGP program must have submitted and received approval for their final project design by the application deadline in order to be considered for funding. Municipalities selected to receive grants will be expected to complete their projects within three years.
Grant applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on May 21, 2025. In 2024, CTDOT awarded more than $12 million in grants to 17 municipalities for projects improving transportation safety and accessibility. CTDOT notes that since its inception in 2019, the program has awarded more than $62 million in grants for 138 projects across the state.
MDOT
MDOT is accepting grant applications from small businesses impacted by construction along the Purple Line alignment in Montgomery and Prince George, Md., counties. MDOT says the Purple Line Small Business Grants Program will support business operations during construction closures or detours, as well as provide marketing support for businesses along the alignment during construction of the light- rail project. The four-year program will invest $4 million in eligible businesses along the Purple Line corridor.
“Maryland’s investment in the Purple Line represents a tremendous economic growth opportunity that will connect communities from Bethesda to New Carrollton. For the project to be truly successful, we must ensure that we leave no one behind,” said MDOT Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These grants will support the businesses whose operations are impacted by construction to ensure they remain open and are ready to thrive once the Purple Line opens.”
The Purple Line is a 16-mile, 21-station light-rail line that will extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. It will directly connect to Metro's Red, Green and Orange lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services.
MDOT secured the funding for the Purple Line Small Business Grants Program through a contract re-negotiation with the project’s concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, which was approved by Maryland’s Board of Public Works in March 2024. Purple Line Transit Partners is MDOT’s private sector partner in the construction, operation and maintenance of the Purple Line and is comprised of majority partner Meridiam and Star America. The project is being constructed by Maryland Transit Solutions, a joint venture of Flatiron Dragados and OHL USA.
MDOT notes the grant program succeeds the Purple Line Construction Zone Grant Program, which provided grants in 2023 and 2024 from the state of Maryland and was administered by Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
According to MDOT, eligible small business applicants must operate a customer-facing business within one-quarter of a mile from the Purple Line alignment and have been open and operational since Jan. 1, 2022. MDOT notes small businesses are eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Fifty or fewer employees
- Gross sales averaging $2 million or less
- Are certified in the state’s Small Business Reserve Program
MDOT says grant award amounts of up to $50,000 will vary based on location of the business, construction impacts and whether the business is located in areas designated for community and economic development, revitalization and sustainability. According to MDOT, up to three application rounds will take place each year. The first round of applications is due by March 14, 2025.
Brandon Lewis | Associate Editor
Brandon Lewis is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lewis is a former freelance editorial assistant at Vehicle Service Pros in Endeavor Business Media’s Vehicle Repair Group. Lewis brings his knowledge of web managing, copyediting and SEO practices to Mass Transit Magazine as an associate editor. He is also a co-host of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast.
