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On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the availability of $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants for surface transportation projects. The funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have "a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area and can create jobs and benefit economically distressed areas," according to USDOT. Primary criteria includes contributions to the medium- to long-term economic competitiveness of the nation; improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems; improvements to the quality of living and working environments through livable communities; energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions; and improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities.

The grants will range from $20 million to $300 million, but the USDOT will require "rigorous economic justifications" for projects over $100 million. The department will require all grant recipients to report on their activities on a routine basis.

Applications for TIGER discretionary grants must be submitted by Sept. 15.