The Biden-Harris administration has announced it will pledge 645.3 million USD to aid the development of rural transportation and mobility needs across the US.
The funding, which comes from the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural), has been allocated to help communities throughout the US finalise transportation projects to increase mobility access, improve safety systems and generate regional economic growth.
Entering its second year, the Rural programme has made available approximately 2 billion USD for the improvement and repair of transport systems in rural communities, with special attention paid to the improvement of poor road conditions, bridges, airports, ports and transit systems.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, said:Rural communities face some of the toughest transportation challenges, yet are often left out of major federal investments, a pattern that we are changing that under President Biden’s leadership.
The grants we’re announcing today will make transportation in rural communities better, safer, and more reliable.
The Rural programme, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has seen an overwhelming response from prospective recipients, receiving requests from 174 applicants vying for the 645 million USD currently available.
Projects selected for funding in this current round include 12 million USD for the Millen Rail Crossing in Georgia, 59.8 million USD for US 64 Corridor Improvements in San Juan County, 360 thousand USD for the PICK 2.0 project in Oklahoma and 27.7 million USD for the Northern Maine US 1 Road Improvement Project in Aroostook Country, Maine.
Applications for the grant were evaluated based on a range of criteria including readiness, cost-effectiveness and whether the project supported the aims of the programme as a whole.
