DOT Receives 568 Applications for TIGER Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it has received 568 applications for grants under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program, surpassing available funding.

Applications for 2013 TIGER grants totaled more than $9 billion, exceeding the available $516 million set aside for the program, according to DOT.

“President Obama challenged us to improve our nation’s infrastructure to provide the transportation choices people and businesses want and the efficiency and safety they need,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “TIGER projects do exactly that – across the country, they are helping relieve congestion, create jobs and generate lasting economic growth.”

During the previous four rounds of TIGER funding, DOT said it received more than 4,050 applications requesting $105.2 billion.

The TIGER, program, which started in 2009 as an economic stimulus, aims to give grants to “innovative” surface transportation infrastructure projects nationwide.