Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program

 

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program provides technical assistance and Federal financial assistance for planning grants and capital construction grants to address infrastructure barriers, reconnect communities, and improve peoples lives.

Active 20.940 Office of The Secretary, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2023 On Feb. 28th, 2023, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $185 million in grant awards for 45 communities through the first round of funding for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program. These awards include 6 Capital Construction Grants and 39 Planning Grants. Public Law 117-58
Sections 11101(d)(3) and 11509 of Division A of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) authorized a total of $500 million of contract authority from the Highway Trust Fund to be awarded by the DOT for the FY 2022-2026 RCP Program. Title VIII, Division J appropriated an additional $500 million from the General Fund to be awarded by the DOT for the FY 2022-2026 RCP Program. In FY2022, there is $195 million available overall. $50 million for Planning and $145 million for Capital Construction. From the Highway Trust Fund, $30 million is available for Planning and $65 million is available for Capital Construction. From the General Fund, $20 million is available for Planning and $80 million is available for Capital Construction. Eligible applicants for RCP Program Planning Grants are: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization. Eligible applicants for RCP Program Capital Construction Grants must be the owner(s) of an eligible facility to carry out an eligible project for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. Owners of an eligible facility, for the purposes of submitting a grant application, may submit a joint application with: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization. Not applicable. To submit an application through Valid Eval.gov, applicants must: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number; Register with the System Award for Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications are solicited through Valid Eval and the publication of a Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register. Applications must be submitted for each round by the published application deadline. Full information on Application requirements can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. RCP Program funding will be awarded to projects selected by the United States Department of Transportation through a competitive selection process. After an application is selected, the Department will work with the project sponsor to complete the necessary work prior to formally obligating the funding through an obligating agreement. The obligating agreement will establish the terms and conditions of the RCP program award. June 28, 2022 to October 13, 2022 We anticipate publishing the NOFO the week of June 28, this is tentative. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines The date range for approval/disapproval will vary by year. Not applicable. Not applicable. All applicants should respond to seven merit criteria: 1) Equity and Environmental Justice, 2) Access, 3) Facility Suitability, 4) Community Engagement and Community-based Stewardship, Management, and Partnerships, 5) Equitable Development, 6) Climate and Environment, 7) Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity These are fully explained in Section E of the NOFO. Applicants for Capital Construction Grants will also be evaluated for Project Readiness. The results of a Benefit Cost Analysis will also be considered. Eligible Planning Grant Activities and Costs: Planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing, retrofitting, or mitigating an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, including evaluations of: current traffic patterns of the facility and the surrounding street network. ​ the capacity of existing transportation networks to maintain mobility needs. an analysis of alternative roadway designs or other uses for the right-of-way. ​ the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the mobility of freight and people​. the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the safety of the traveling public. ​ the cost to restore community connectivity and to convert the facility to a different roadway design or use, compared to any expected maintenance or reconstruction costs.​ the anticipated economic impact and any economic development opportunities that would be created​ from the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or proposed alternative use. the environmental, public health, and community impacts of retaining or reconstructing the facility and the anticipated effect of the proposed alternative use or roadway design.​ Public engagement activities, including community visioning, to provide opportunities for public input into a plan to remove and convert an eligible facility. Other transportation planning activities required in advance of a project to remove, retrofit, or mitigate an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, such as: conceptual and preliminary engineering or design and planning studies that support the environmental review for a construction project. Planning studies may address: zoning reform, transit-oriented development, housing supply, project impact mitigation, green and open space, affordability-induced displacement, local history and culture, current barriers to access, jobs and workforce, or other necessary planning activities as put forth by the applicant that do not result in construction. Eligible Capital Construction Grants Projects and Costs: For Capital Construction Grants, eligible projects include those for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. This prerequisite requires the project to be included in the applicable Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and / or Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Tribal Transportation Improvement Program (TTIP) or equivalent as applicable by the time of the obligation of the award. Eligible construction grant activities include preconstruction and permitting activities including the completion of the NEPA process; the removal, retrofit, or mitigation of an eligible facility; and the replacement of an eligible facility with a new facility that restores community connectivity; and costs of community benefits and mitigation of impacts identified in the NEPA or other planning process for the capital construction project; and otherwise, is eligible for funding under title 23, United States Code. Performance Reports: Required for Capital Projects only. Capital construction awardees will choose from a menu of possible measurements to report on. Not applicable. Not applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 20%. Matching funds may include Non-Federal sources such as State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue, local funds originating from State or local revenue-funded programs, or private funds. In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306, for all programs, grant recipients may also use in-kind or cash contributions toward local match requirements so long as those contributions meet the requirements under 2 CFR § 200.306(b). In-kind contributions may include compensation for community members’ time, materials, pro bono work provided to the project by third parties, and donations from private sponsors. Any in-kind contributions used to fulfill the cost-share requirement for Planning Grants and Capital Construction Grants must: be in accordance with the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E; include documented evidence of completion within the period of performance; and support the execution of the eligible activities in Section C.4. See 23 CFR § 710.505 for requirements related to the donation of real property. RCP Program grant recipients will, in general, need to pay project costs up front. RCP Program Funds are administered on a reimbursement basis. DOT will only reimburse recipients for costs incurred after a grant agreement has been executed, allowable expenses are incurred, and valid requests for reimbursement are submitted. For Planning Grants and any grant for which a non-profit organization or smaller local government or Tribe is a recipient or sub-recipient, DOT may at its sole discretion establish alternative funding arrangements on a case-by-case basis. Unless authorized by DOT in writing after DOT’s announcement of FY 2022 RCP Program awards, any costs incurred prior to DOT’s obligation of funds for a project or pre-award costs are ineligible for reimbursement.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. RCP program funding from the Highway Trust Fund is available for obligation for up to 4 years beyond the authorized year of availability. DOT encourages all recipients to obligated by that time and reserves the right to assign funding source at its discretion. Once obligated, funds are available indefinitely, however, the Department expects recipients to meet the schedule they propose in their application. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funding is made available on a reimbursable basis for work completed on selected and awarded projects. None/Not specified. Andrew Emanuele
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590 USA
Andrew.Emanuele@dot.gov
Phone: 2023660622 https://www.transportation.gov/grants/rcnprogram/about-rcp 69-0548-0-1-401 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $185,000,000.00; FY 24 est $198,000,000.00; FY 21 - Of the total amount of the FY 2022 RCP funding available in this notice, $95 million is authorized contract authority from the Highway Trust Fund and $100 million is appropriations from the General Fund. DOT is working with the 2022 awardees to complete the grant agreements and obligate the funding. Planning Grants In FY 2022, DOT may award up to $50 million for eligible feasibility studies, public engagement, and other planning activities. BIL specifies that the maximum RCP Program Planning Grant award is $2 million. DOT anticipates that Planning Grants may range from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Capital Construction Grants In FY 2022, DOT may award up to $145 million for eligible construction activities necessary to carry out a project to remove, retrofit, or mitigate an existing eligible facility. BIL specifies that the minimum capital construction grant award is $5 million. DOT anticipates that Capital Construction Grants may range from $5 million to $100 million. Not applicable. Fiscal Year 2022 Shoreline Drive Gateway Project, Long Beach, CA - $30M Capital Construction West Baltimore United, City of Baltimore, MD - $2M Planning