U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD Program

U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD Program
Name	BUILD Program
Agency	United States Department of Transportation
Formed	2009
Preceding1	Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	United States Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD Program

The BUILD Program is a competitive grant initiative administered by the United States Department of Transportation that funds surface transportation projects across the United States. It awards discretionary grants to state, regional, tribal, and local entities to support capital investments in roads, bridges, transit, freight, and multimodal connections. The program coordinates with federal statutes and other funding sources such as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the National Infrastructure Bank concept.

Overview

The BUILD Program provides discretionary grants to support surface transportation projects that improve safety, enhance economic competitiveness, and support regional connectivity among state governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Federally Recognized Tribes, and municipal agencies. It targets multimodal projects involving Interstate 95, Amtrak, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and other major infrastructure operators. The program aims to leverage investments alongside partners such as the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Economic Development Administration to address congestion on corridors like I-80 and capacity at hubs like Port of Los Angeles and Chicago Union Station.

History and Evolution

The program traces roots to the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which aimed to stimulate projects following the Great Recession. TIGER evolved into BUILD under the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, reflecting priorities articulated during administrations of Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Legislative and executive actions—such as provisions in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—altered funding levels, project selection priorities, and the role of agencies like the Office of Management and Budget and Congressional Appropriations Committees.

Program Structure and Funding

BUILD grants are funded through annual appropriations approved by the United States Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Grant sizes range from small awards to multimillion-dollar investments comparable to capital from entities like the Federal Transit Administration and Build America Bureau. Evaluation involves interagency review with input from Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Commerce offices such as the Economic Development Administration. Funding prioritizes projects that align with statutory goals under acts like the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and complements financing tools from institutions such as the World Bank for international comparisons.

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligible applicants include state governments, local governments, public authorities, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and federally recognized Native American tribes, as well as certain not-for-profit organizations partnering with public entities. Applicants typically submit a detailed application packet including project narratives, cost estimates, environmental review status under National Environmental Policy Act, and letters of support from stakeholders such as the Federal Railroad Administration or regional ports like the Port of New York and New Jersey. Applications are often evaluated alongside proposals to other programs such as Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans or New Starts applications to the Federal Transit Administration.

Selection Criteria and Grant Awards

Selection criteria emphasize safety improvements, economic benefits, state of repair, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Review considers metrics used by entities like the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and precedent projects including upgrades at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Port of Seattle investments. Awards reflect congressional direction, peer-reviewed benefit-cost analyses, and alignment with regional plans from Metropolitan Planning Organizations and state Departments of Transportation such as the California Department of Transportation and New York State Department of Transportation. Grants may require matching funds and demonstrate readiness to proceed, consistent with best practices from the Federal Highway Administration.

Notable Projects and Impact

BUILD-funded projects have included highway reconstructions, bridge replacements, transit station modernizations, and port expansions. Examples include improvements comparable to projects at Tappan Zee Bridge, expansions like those at Port of Long Beach, intermodal terminal upgrades akin to Los Angeles Union Station investments, and freight corridor works similar to efforts on I-70 and I-95. Evaluations cite benefits in reduced travel times, job creation, and freight efficiency, with economic assessments referencing Bureau of Labor Statistics data and regional growth patterns in metropolitan areas such as Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area and San Francisco Bay Area.

Criticism and Policy Debates

Critics argue that discretionary grant programs like BUILD can reflect political bargaining from members of United States Congress and may favor high-profile projects over equitable distribution to rural or underserved communities. Debates involve comparisons to formula funding mechanisms managed by the Federal Highway Administration and questions about cost-benefit methodologies endorsed by the Council of Economic Advisers and White House Office of Management and Budget. Environmental advocates reference tensions with National Environmental Policy Act processes, while fiscal conservatives point to concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office about grant oversight and long-term maintenance obligations for recipients.

Category:United States Department of Transportation programs