BUILD (discretionary grants)
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| BUILD (discretionary grants) | |
|---|---|
| Name | BUILD (discretionary grants) |
| Established | 2018 |
| Administered by | United States Department of Transportation |
| Type | competitive discretionary grant |
| Funding authority | Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act; Consolidated Appropriations Acts |
BUILD (discretionary grants) are a federal competitive grant program administered by the United States Department of Transportation to fund surface transportation projects that concentrate on safety, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, and environmental protection. The program awards targeted capital investments in roads, bridges, transit, rail, port, and intermodal facilities through a merit-based process intended to support local and regional project sponsors including state governments, local governments, tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and public authorities. BUILD succeeded earlier discretionary programs and complements formula programs such as those administered under titles from acts like the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and annual Consolidated Appropriations Act appropriations measures.
Overview
BUILD grants (originally known as BUILD after rebranding from a predecessor program) prioritize transformational infrastructure projects that demonstrate national or regional significance. Eligible projects typically include capital investments in highways, bridges, freight rail, transit, port infrastructure, intermodal facilities, and broadband deployments associated with transportation assets, aligning with priorities outlined by administrations dating to the Trump administration and continued through subsequent Biden administration transport policy. The program emphasizes multimodal connectivity, safety improvements connected to programs such as the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and economic development in areas affected by manufacturing shifts like those seen in the Rust Belt and port regions such as Port of Los Angeles and Port of New York and New Jersey.
Eligibility and Application Process
Applicants include state departments of transportation such as the California Department of Transportation, county governments like Cook County, Illinois, tribal entities including the Navajo Nation, municipal agencies such as the New York City Department of Transportation, transit agencies like Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York), and regional authorities including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area). Application packages must typically provide project narratives, environmental documentation consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, financial plans referencing revenues from sources such as Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans or tax increment financing mechanisms, and letters of support from elected officials including figures like governors or mayors (e.g., Gavin Newsom, Bill de Blasio). Competitive selection involves merit criteria evaluated by DOT staff and reviewed by Secretarial priorities defined by Secretaries of Transportation such as Elaine Chao and Pete Buttigieg.
Funding and Award Criteria
BUILD grants are awarded on a cost-share basis with federal shares generally capped at percentages specified in authorizing statutes; projects often combine BUILD funding with other federal sources such as the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD)'s predecessor arrangements, Federal Transit Administration grants, and Federal Highway Administration funds. Evaluation criteria include demonstrated need, mobility improvements demonstrated with data from entities like the Federal Highway Administration, state of good repair considerations paralleling Amtrak and Norfolk Southern concerns, economic competitiveness metrics referencing manufacturing hubs in Detroit or coastal logistics centers like Savannah, Georgia, and environmental sustainability consistent with guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency. Award announcements are frequently accompanied by statements from governors, members of Congress such as representatives from delegations like Ohio's 11th congressional district or senators like Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer.
Program History and Legislative Background
BUILD evolved from earlier discretionary surface transportation programs initiated under legislation such as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), with reauthorizations and funding appropriations enacted via omnibus spending bills including the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program’s creation followed precedents set by discretionary grant efforts under administrations including Barack Obama and Donald Trump, with policy debates occurring in hearings before committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Legislative changes over successive Congresses influenced eligibility, scoring, and emphasis on freight, rural access (affecting regions like the Great Plains), and resilience to hazards exemplified by storms impacting Puerto Rico and coastal states like Florida.
Administration and Oversight
Program administration resides within the United States Department of Transportation with interagency coordination involving the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Maritime Administration for port-related projects. Oversight mechanisms include statutory reporting to Congress, audit functions by the Government Accountability Office, and compliance reviews by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Implementation requires conformity with federal statutes such as Title 23 of the United States Code for highways and environmental compliance under the National Historic Preservation Act when projects affect historic properties like sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Impact and Notable Projects
BUILD grants have funded a range of projects from bridge replacements in locales such as Minneapolis and Pittsburgh to multimodal freight corridors serving corridors used by carriers like BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Notable awards supported port modernization projects at hubs including the Port of Long Beach and intermodal yard improvements affecting metropolitan freight flows in Chicago. Projects have also targeted rural broadband attachments to transportation structures in states like Montana and resilience upgrades following events such as Hurricane Maria. Evaluations of program impact engage analysts at institutions such as the Brookings Institution, the Urban Institute, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, which assess contributions to congestion reduction, safety, and regional economic development.