U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced that the Build America Bureau (Bureau) is investing $54.2 million to advance the progress of transportation and infrastructure projects in rural and tribal areas across the country.
These Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (RTA) grants help recipients hire staff or procure financial, technical, and legal assistance for pre-construction phase activities. This investment will support plans that rehabilitate run-down bridges and roads, boost transportation safety and mobility, develop port infrastructure, and expand multimodal infrastructure—making the transportation of people and goods safer, more efficient, and more effective.
“RTA grants help rural and tribal areas across this country build their capacity to deliver projects faster and at a lower cost,” said Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian, Ph.D. “I’m excited by the historic level of interest in this program and to help communities understand and use innovative funding, financing, and delivery solutions.”
For this round of funding, the Build America Bureau received 799 applications requesting $790 million, a 1000% increase in applications and a 4000% increase in requested funding compared to the program’s first round.
“The Trump Administration continues to work to give Tribal Nations the opportunity to build better infrastructure on our tribal lands, creating more opportunity for economic development and safety. The Build America Bureau provides another source of funding that Tribes will use for the betterment of their communities. I look forward to continue working with Executive Director, Morteza Farajian,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs James A. Crawford.
Additional Information:
The RTA Program provides early-stage development assistance for rural and tribal infrastructure projects. The grants, which require no local match, were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and set aside $20 million for tribal applications. Of the 49 recipients, 31 are rural, and 18 are tribal. With 13 previous awards, the total number of RTA grants is 62, totaling $57.6 million to advance rural and tribal infrastructure projects.
Examples of investments include:
- $2.35 million to the City of Chevak, a remote Alaskan village, to assist with design, planning, and permitting activities for the Cev’aq River Marine Barge Landing Facility project to ensure reliable and safe delivery of fuel, building materials, and essential goods to support its local economy and residents.
- $1.96 million to the Crow Tribe Reservation, located in southcentral Montana, to assist with preconstruction activities for the development of a new Tribal transportation facility to improve road maintenance and traveler safety across its 2.3-million-acre reservation.
The original announcement can be found here.
