Are there good practices for cities to follow when submitting grant applications for transportation infrastructure funding?

In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”), signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021, there are several competitive and formula-distributed funding opportunities for transportation infrastructure. Applicants can take steps to ensure their application is competitive and meets all the required criteria.

First, applicants can form an infrastructure task force and appoint an infrastructure implementation coordinator. A single point of contact for infrastructure projects will ensure more efficient coordination and communication.[1] The White House Infrastructure Coordinator has recommended President Biden’s Infrastructure Implementation Task Force as a model.[2] This task force is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the IIJA in line with the administration’s six main priorities: investing public dollars efficiently, investing public dollars equitably, buying American products, creating job opportunities, building resilient infrastructure, and effective coordination through all levels of government.[3]

Other steps recommended by the White House for all federal infrastructure funds are listed in the Competitive Infrastructure Funding Opportunities for Local Governments Fact Sheet:

1. Prioritize your community’s capital needs and develop a project pipeline – taking time to think about the projects previously considered impossible due to lack of funding or regional coordination. This is a once-in-a-generation funding opportunity that will require bold, inclusive thinking.
2. Use the forthcoming Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook to identify federal funding streams to target.
3. Ensure all transit, railway, road, highway, and bridge projects are a part of your [metropolitan planning organization (MPO)]’s Transportation Improvement Plan.
4. Begin mapping sites for electric vehicle and alternative fuel charging stations.
5. Inventory and map the lead pipes in your city. Read through the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan here for additional federal resources for this effort.
6. Work with your state’s broadband agency to ensure your city or region’s needs are appropriately mapped and inventoried.
7. Establish relationships with the regional offices for key federal agencies, who can help direct you to resources and provide technical assistance.[4]

Applicants may also refer to the IIJA Guidebook (the "Guidebook") for assistance in identifying the appropriate program, whether competitive or formula-grant, for the applicants' various infrastructure project types.[5] The Guidebook discusses the funding amount, period of availability, funding mechanism, eligible recipients, program description, eligible uses, and next milestone for each program available. Using this framework, municipalities can determine the most suitable opportunity for their application.

Additionally, applicants may reference the Guidebook Data Set accompanying the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook. This data set provides a vast amount of information on all the 380 funding opportunities provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and may also be helpful for applicants in identifying appropriate programs and opportunities. The White House has explicitly stated in this regard that they “have also published an accompanying data file on Build.gov that allows users to quickly sort programs funded under the law by fields like agency, amount, eligible recipient, or program name.”[6]

While not specific to transportation infrastructure projects, applicants may find it helpful to complete a needs assessment, engage with public stakeholders prior to developing applications, or coordinate with neighboring communities for synergy as good practice when seeking maximum benefits from funding opportunities. Applicants should also determine if the application serves a historically disadvantaged community or area of persistent poverty; many programs guarantee a portion of funding to those identified areas. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides a tool to assist applicants in identifying these areas.[7]

In addition (as with any federal fiscal program), once the government releases a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”), applicants should pay close attention to the criteria and submission deadlines as another good practice, as the exact requirements and specifications for success are included. For example, the NOFO for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (“RAISE”) discretionary grant program was released and subsequently amended on March 22, 2022, with a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on April 14, 2022.[8] Applicants can determine when to expect a NOFO from the “next milestone” information listed in each program of the Guidebook. Each NOFO includes a recommended approach to a benefit-cost analysis (“BCA”) that should be included in the project application if required. Gathering data for a BCA can be time-consuming and laborious. Preparing the BCA prior to NOFO release will increase efficiency when developing the project application.