Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) Program

Carl Ringgold
202.366.2750
Carl.Ringgold@dot.gov

The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering funding for Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIAs) that will provide technical assistance to develop improved infrastructure priorities and financing strategies for the accelerated development of transportation projects in the region.

Assistance may include:

• Project planning
• Studies and analysis including feasibility, market analysis, project costs, value for money, public benefit, and environmental reviews, among others
• Revenue forecasting
• Preliminary engineering and design work
• Statutory and regulatory compliance analyses
• Assessment of opportunities for private financing, project bundling, and/or phasing
• Enhancement of rural project sponsors' capacity to use federal products and offerings as funding

Funding is intended to support RIAs that:

• Serve a defined geographic area
• Act as a resource to qualified entities in the geographic area
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of the RIA to expedite the delivery of projects eligible for the TIFIA credit program

Eligible applicants are U.S. public entities including state, multi-state, county, municipalities, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, Tribal governments, and others. Priority will be given to new applicants.

Regional designation categories:

1. State or multi-state: An RIA that serves one state or a group of state entities with common interest in transportation projects being delivered
2. Urban or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): An RIA that serves a local government or group of local jurisdictions with transportation functions within a metropolitan area
3. Rural: An RIA that serves a region of rural communities
4. Other: Any proposal that includes multiple jurisdictions with shared priorities and interests, such as a river basin, transportation corridor, and others

Award ceiling: $1,500,000
Award floor: $1,000,000
Project period: 2 years
Estimated number of awards: 6-10
Estimated total program funding: $10,000,000

A third year of funding may be provided subject to performance and the availability of funds.

Links to the full announcement and online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab.