U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the third round of the Department’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program. The FY24 NOFO includes funding from FY24-26, totaling over $600 million for capital construction and community planning grants. This initiative is part of the ongoing investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at enhancing infrastructure across the nation.

Communities interested in the program but not yet ready to apply can request free technical assistance through DOT’s Reconnecting Communities Institute to explore project feasibility. Last year, the RCP was combined with the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program, resulting in $3.3 billion in funding that supported projects in 130 communities. To date, 176 communities have benefited from RCP and NAE funding.

“Through President Biden’s infrastructure law, we’re addressing infrastructure choices of the past and making sure that our transportation investments serve to connect, rather than divide, people and communities across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will support projects that bring people closer to jobs, schools, housing, places of worship, and one another.”

Despite last year’s additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the program remains highly competitive.

Projects awarded earlier this year include:

The Reconnecting Atlanta’s Southside Communities: Atlanta BeltLine to Flint River Trail Project in Atlanta, Georgia will construct a multi-use trail connecting various facilities cut off by major interstates around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Reconnecting 4th Ave N: A Two-Way Vision for Reviving Legacy and Inspiring Progress Project in Birmingham, Alabama received a grant for a Complete Streets redesign of Birmingham’s Black Main Street.

The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project in Portland, Oregon will construct a highway cover supporting new community space while reconnecting Lower Albina to local streets over Interstate 5 (I-5).

The I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse, New York aims to remove parts of I-81 to transform surrounding neighborhoods into a complete streets network.

These projects are part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda which focuses on rebuilding national infrastructure and fostering economic growth through substantial investments.

The RCP program aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which ensures that 40 percent of certain federal investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. The Department continues its commitment to helping these communities access historic levels of federal funding through programs like Thriving Communities and the Reconnecting Communities Institute.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT on Monday, September 30, 2024. More information about the NOFO can be found HERE.

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