A pilot program created by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act will help reconnect people to economic opportunities and essential services of the community.
Courtesy of the US Department of Transportation.
Birmingham, Alabama — Today, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Butigeg and other senior USDOT leaders join U.S. Department of Transportation Rep. Terri Sewell, Mayor of Birmingham Randall Woodfin, and other local leaders of Birmingham, Alabama. Join us and announce that the US Department of Transportation is accepting the first application. That kind of reconnect community pilot program. Birmingham will soon launch the Birmingham Express. This is a new bus express haulage service that connects Arabaman in 25 communities to work, school and medical care.
Funding from the $ 1 billion pilot program created by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act will help reconnect communities that were previously separated from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure. Reconnecting the community means adapting existing infrastructure, such as building pedestrian walkways above or below existing highways, to take advantage of neighborhood opportunities, pedestrian crossings, redesigned intersections, etc. It means connecting to a better means of access.
“Transportation can connect us with work, services, and loved ones, but there are countless cases across the country where part of the infrastructure blocks neighborhoods and communities because of the way it is built. “U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete said. Butigeg. “We are proud to announce the start of community reconnection using funds from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law, which is the neighborhood we live in as a result of past infrastructure choices that have divided the community. Is the first dedicated federal initiative to unify. “
USDOT will also launch a thriving community initiative to provide technical and hands-on planning support for innovative infrastructure projects that serve underprivileged communities. This includes new DOT navigators that provide better access to department-wide technical assistance programs, and new programs that provide capacity building support to the community. As part of a thriving community program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides complementary technical assistance to improve housing and transportation planning coordination, promote access to residents’ opportunities, and increase housing supply. increase. USDOT and HUD will issue a funding availability notice in the fall to select capacity builders.
The Reconnecting Communitys Pilot Program is the first federal program to fund reconnection efforts only, but at the discretion of other USDOTs, including the US Infrastructure Reconstruction (RAISE) program with sustainability and equity. Grant programs fund projects such as interstate highway capping. Atlanta, St. Louis Greenway Project, Baltimore Bus Rapid Transit Line — A city where transportation infrastructure previously acted as a barrier, all examples of connecting neighborhoods and employment opportunities. The state is also encouraged to use official funding to assist in financing reconnection projects.
The Reconnecting Communitys pilot program may help support planning efforts to move the project to a more competitive stage against these other sources of funding.
The applicants eligible for the Reconnecting Communities Competitive Grants Pilot Program are:
- state
- Local and tribal governments
- Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Non-profit organization
- Owners of other transportation facilities
Applications from economically disadvantaged communities, especially those with projects focused on fairness and environmental justice, strong community involvement and management, and efforts to share prosperity and equitable development. It will be prioritized. Of the $ 195 million from this year’s grant program, $ 50 million will be used to plan community activities that may be early in the process.
You can find the community reconnection notice for funding opportunities announced today here. Learn more about community reconnection technical assistance and other resources. The application deadline is October 13, 2022. The award will be announced in early 2023. The new DOT Navigator can be accessed here and information about thriving community programs can be found here.
The department convenes a series of stakeholder webins to help potential applicants learn about the RCP grant program and what they need to know to complete an application. The first event will take place on Thursday, July 14th at 12:00 EST EST.
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