Building a Better America (BUILD) grants
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| Building a Better America (BUILD) grants | |
|---|---|
| Name | Building a Better America (BUILD) grants |
| Established | 2018 |
| Administered by | United States Department of Transportation |
| Funding | competitive grants |
| Purpose | surface transportation infrastructure investment |
Building a Better America (BUILD) grants are a competitive federal grant program focused on surface transportation projects that improve safety, repair infrastructure, and support economic growth. The program was created to consolidate and replace prior discretionary programs and to prioritize projects demonstrating regional collaboration, multimodal benefits, and measurable outcomes. BUILD grants have funded a variety of projects across the United States and intersect with other federal initiatives that involve state, local, and tribal partners.
Background and Purpose
BUILD grants were introduced as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 to replace the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants and to align with priorities set forth by federal transportation legislation. The program aims to support investments in roads, bridges, transit, port, and freight projects that advance safety objectives highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, economic competitiveness emphasized by the Department of Commerce, and resilience goals promoted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. BUILD emphasizes projects that demonstrate meaningful collaboration among state governments, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and tribal governments, and that leverage public and private financing tools referenced by the Office of Management and Budget.
Eligibility and Application Process
Eligible applicants for BUILD grants include states, metropolitan planning organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, local governments including municipalities like New York City, public port authorities like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, transit agencies such as Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York), and federally recognized tribal governments. Applications require detailed project narratives, environmental review status under the National Environmental Policy Act, cost estimates aligned with Federal Highway Administration standards, and demonstration of benefit–cost analysis consistent with guidance from the Economic Development Administration. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is published by the United States Department of Transportation and applicants often coordinate with congressional delegations including members from the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to align federal, state, and local priorities.
Funding Allocation and Project Types
BUILD grant awards have ranged from small capital infusions to large multimillion-dollar commitments and have funded projects such as bridge replacement, road reconstruction, transit station rehabilitation, port modernization, and multimodal freight corridors. Examples of project types include movable bridge projects similar to those undertaken by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, intermodal terminal upgrades akin to efforts by the Association of American Railroads, and rural road safety improvements implemented in coordination with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Funding allocation decisions consider factors codified in the grant guidance, including safety improvements, state of good repair, economic competitiveness tied to the United States Chamber of Commerce, environmental sustainability consonant with Environmental Protection Agency priorities, and workforce development aligned with Department of Labor programs.
Program Administration and Oversight
The United States Department of Transportation administers BUILD grants through the Federal Highway Administration and coordinates reviews with agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Maritime Administration. Oversight mechanisms include grant agreement terms, performance reporting requirements, and compliance with federal statutes administered by entities like the Office of Inspector General (United States Department of Transportation), and audit processes overseen by the Government Accountability Office. Project delivery approaches often invoke contracting standards reflected in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and labor provisions consistent with the Davis–Bacon Act when applicable.
Impact, Outcomes, and Notable Projects
BUILD awards have supported high-profile projects that improved freight movement at ports such as investments comparable to those at the Port of Long Beach and modernization projects affecting rail corridors like upgrades near the Chicago Union Station complex. Other recipients included urban transit projects in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, and Houston, as well as rural bridge and roadway rehabilitation in states like Iowa and Montana. Reported outcomes include reduced travel times evaluated using methodologies from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, increases in freight throughput aligned with U.S. Census Bureau trade data, and safety improvements measured against National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash statistics. BUILD-funded efforts have also catalyzed complementary investments from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency brownfields programs and the Economic Development Administration.
Criticism and Controversies
Critics have raised concerns about the competitive selection process, citing questions similar to controversies surrounding TIGER grants and debates involving congressional earmarking in the Appropriations Committee (United States House of Representatives). Some observers, including transportation advocacy groups like the American Public Transportation Association and fiscal watchdogs akin to the Brookings Institution, have argued that the benefit–cost analyses favored certain metropolitan areas, potentially disadvantaging rural projects in states represented by committees such as the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Environmental groups referencing Sierra Club critiques have questioned whether some projects sufficiently addressed climate resilience priorities championed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dialogues. Oversight investigations by the Government Accountability Office and reviews by the Office of Inspector General (United States Department of Transportation) have examined compliance, project delivery timetables, and reporting practices.