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For the fourth time since the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program was launched in 2009, funding sought by applicants far exceeds available dollars.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced it received 703 applications seeking a total of $10.2 billion in TIGER IV grants from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, more than 20 times the $500 million set aside for the program.

Similar to the first three rounds of the TIGER grant program, applications involve infrastructure projects from every transportation mode, including freight rail, intermodal and transit. Grants again will be awarded on a competitive basis; the USDOT expects to announce grant recipients in late June.

“President Obama has challenged us to invest in an America that is built to last, and it’s clear that communities across America can’t afford to wait any longer to get started,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a prepared statement. "The need is enormous. From roadways to help reduce costly bottlenecks to transit choices that help commuters save on gas and freight-rail upgrades that improve safety and efficiency, America needs a 21st century transportation system capable of supporting our 21st century economy.”

Congress previously allocated $1.5 billion for TIGER I, $600 million for TIGER II and $527 million for TIGER III; the three rounds collectively provided $2.6 billion to 172 projects in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. During the three rounds, the USDOT received 3,348 applications requesting more than $95 billion in grants.