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5/27/2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday announced it’s seeking applications for millions of dollars in grant funds available under two programs: the University Transportation Centers (UTC) program and the Federal Transit Administration's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning.
Under the UTC program, the USDOT is seeking applications from universities for up to 35 UTC awards, with total funding of $450 million for the period from 2022 through 2026, USDOT officials said in a press release.
The department intends to select up to five national UTCs, 10 regional UTCs, and up to 20 Tier 1 UTCs, each of which will conduct a combination of research, education, workforce development and technology transfer and implementation activities.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed by Congress in 2021, continues funding for the UTC program.
UTCs must propose a focus area from among the legislation’s stated research priorities: improving mobility of people and goods; reducing congestion; promoting safety; improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure; preserving the environment; preserving the existing transportation system; and reducing transportation cybersecurity risks.
U.S. nonprofit institutions of higher education are eligible to apply or be members of a proposed UTC consortium. Applications for funding are due Aug. 25.
Meanwhile, the FTA is soliciting applications for $13 million in competitive grant funds available through the TOD pilot program for site-specific planning projects that will improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.
To apply for grant funding, an applicant must be an existing FTA funds recipient – either a project sponsor of an eligible transit project or an entity with land use planning authority in the project corridor. To ensure that work meets the needs of the local community, transit project sponsors and land use planning authorities must partner to conduct the planning work.
Grant applications for funding under the TOD pilot program are due July 25.