DOT Accepting Applications for FASTLANE Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications for the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies grants.
FASTLANE, a program established by the FAST Act , is designed to fund what DOT determines are critical freight and highway projects. For fiscal 2016, the FAST Act authorizes $800 million in funding, with 25% reserved for rural projects and 10% for smaller projects. For the first time in DOT’s 50-year history, FASTLANE establishes broad, multiyear eligibilities for freight infrastructure, including intermodal projects.
“Our nation needs a strong, multimodal freight system to both compete in the global economy and meet the needs of consumers and industry,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. “We now have an opportunity to fund high-impact projects that address key challenges affecting the movement of people and freight.”
FASTLANE grants are supposed to address many of the challenges outlined in the USDOT report "Beyond Traffic," including increased congestion on the nation’s highways and the need for a strong, multimodal transportation system to support the expected growth in freight movement. The program is part of DOT’s draft National Freight Strategic Plan that was released in October and identifies strategies to address impediments to the efficient flow of goods.
Large projects are eligible for a minimum FASTLANE award of $25 million. Small projects are eligible for a minimum award of $5 million. Applications are due April 14.
