In 2021, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Grant Program was established as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), alongside other transportation grant programs like Safe Streets and Roads for All and Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART). The goal of the BIL? To address long-standing infrastructure issues across the U.S. and modernize the nation's transportation networks to be safer — as well as more efficient and equitable. The BIL will provide a total of $550 billion in infrastructure funding through 2026.
What is the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program?
Designed to target infrastructure barriers, the RCP Grant Program funds solutions that bring communities back together.
The program started in 2022, with a total of $1 billion in funding allotted through 2026. Funding is available through the program for two types of grants — planning and capital construction — and focuses on removing infrastructure barriers and improving quality of life.
The purpose of the RCP Grant Program is exactly what it sounds like — reconnecting communities. This typically consists of removing, retrofitting or mitigating transportation infrastructure, all with the goal of restoring connectivity, mobility, access and economic development. This might include enhancing or implementing public transportation, creating pedestrian walkways or reimagining roadways altogether.
The two grants available depend on the current stage of your community’s plans — whether you’re still in the planning process or ready to begin your project. A Community Planning Grant provides funding for any planning activities necessary to lay the groundwork for your project, such as analyzing the removal, retrofit or mitigation of existing infrastructure. On the other hand, a Capital Reconstruction Grant provides funding for ready-to-tackle projects that will enhance, remove or replace infrastructure to reconnect your community.
Projects selected in the first round of funding have included:
Boston, Massachusetts: Capping a highway section in the city’s Chinatown with a park to reconnect the divided neighborhood and add much-needed greenspace
Bluefield, West Virginia: Adding a T-shaped corridor to create better access and transit throughout the community that’s currently divided by a rail yard
Buffalo, New York: Capping 4,100 feet of the Kensington Expressway with green space to reconnect local roads on the city’s East Side and support the community’s cyclists and pedestrians
How to Apply for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program
Whether you’re applying for a Community Planning Grant or a Capital Construction Grant, it's essential to ensure you have a comprehensive goal in mind and understand the eligibility requirements of the program. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides detailed information on the application process, evaluation criteria and grant deadlines — once the program is open for applications, it will live on the U.S. DOT’s dedicated program portal.
Wondering if the project you have in mind is eligible? The U.S. DOT defines eligible facilities as “highways or other transportation facilities that create a barrier to community connectivity, including barriers to mobility, access, or economic development, due to high speeds, grade separations, or other design factors.” When it comes to other transportation facilities, the U.S. DOT considers railroads and transit lines as eligible infrastructure.
Eligible parties for a Community Planning Grant include:
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U.S. states
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Local governments
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Tribal governments
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Metropolitan planning organizations
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Nonprofits
Eligible parties for a Capital Construction Grant include:
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The facility/infrastructure owner
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Eligible applicants of Community Planning Grants when the owner of the eligible facility is a joint applicant
Additionally, the U.S. DOT is launching a technical assistance program in 2024: the Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI). The program will provide assistance to communities that are economically disadvantaged — particularly those that have been negatively impacted by transportation infrastructure. Throughout the course of the program, participants will receive training and technical assistance to enhance their transportation planning and project implementation capabilities.
Want to be notified when there’s an update on the RCP Grant Program? You can sign up for email updates on the program’s website. Or, get in touch with us to chat through how we can assist you with your upcoming RCP grant application.
Nicole Marcott
TAPCO | Director of Product Management
With a career spanning nearly three decades across multiple industries, Nicole has served in various client service, operations and leadership positions and is leveraging those experiences to lead TAPCO's Product Management Team.
Nicole is passionate about leveraging the voice of the customer and is excited to help develop innovative new products that will help ensure safe travels throughout communities across the nation