The competitive Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program invests in multimodal and multijurisdictional road, rail, transit and port projects that are typically harder to support through traditional U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) programs. These competitive grants are intended to make significant investments in projects that achieve national objectives. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $7.5 billion in supplemental funding over five years for RAISE—a substantial increase given a $1 billion appropriation in fiscal year 2021.

In the last cycle of RAISE grants, announced in November, USDOT announced an unprecedented investment in projects that advance trail and active transportation infrastructure. Nearly $1 billion in RAISE grants were awarded this cycle, with an emphasis on those “that will improve infrastructure, strengthen supply chains, make us safer, advance equity, and combat climate change.” Projects that were solely or mainly about trails secured 19% of the overall funding, and projects that were predominantly to make roads safer for vulnerable road users like bicyclists and pedestrians secured another 21% of the funding. This remarkable level of funding for trails, walking and biking underscores the critical role of active transportation infrastructure in providing safe, equitable walking and biking routes—an essential activity to enable more people to walk and bike where they need to go, reducing transportation-related emissions.

Eligibility

The following project types are eligible for funding:

Capital projects including but not limited to:

• Road or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United States Code
• Public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code
• Passenger and freight rail transportation projects
• Port infrastructure investments
• Intermodal projects
• Projects investing in surface transportation facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal government

Planning projects include the planning, preparation or design of eligible surface transportation capital projects.

Resources

USDOT releases regular notices of funding opportunities and information about applying for RAISE grants on its website, here: www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants. Information on previous RAISE grants can be found here: RAISE 2021 Capital Awards and RAISE 2021 Planning Awards

RTC’s resources can help guide your strategy surrounding RAISE applications.

RAISE CASE STUDIES  RAISE BACKGROUND  RAISE FAQ

Related: Federal Grants RAISE the Bar for Active Transportation Investments

Related: USDOT’s Current RAISE Funding Opportunity Is Best Chance Yet to Secure Big Investments in Connected, Safe Walking and Biking Routes