The following is the text of a blog by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx:
(WASHINGTON) — Today, it is my absolute pleasure to announce the availability of $500 million for DOT's 2015 TIGER grants for innovative transportation projects across the country.
Over the past six rounds, funds from our Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program have helped launch projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — many of which would still be on the drawing board without TIGER. The highly competitive program offers one of the only federal funding possibilities for multi-modal projects that often are not suitable for other federal funding sources.
Like its preceding rounds, this seventh round of TIGER will fund projects that create jobs, foster regional partnerships, advance new technologies, spur economic and community development, and strengthen the transportation infrastructure of this great country.
I am certain that we will continue to receive an overwhelming number of high quality applications that provide solutions to connect residents of urban and rural communities with educational, employment, and other service opportunities that are critical to our nation.
In Oklahoma City, for example, $13.6 million in TIGER funds will support renovation of the Santa Fe Depot facility to provide access for Amtrak passenger rail service, a future streetcar line, light rail, and commuter rail services. Other proposed improvements include the rehabilitated depot building with a large common area, facilities for ticketing and baggage, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian features, and upgrades to E.K. Gaylord Boulevard. Taken together, the revamped depot will be an enormous improvement in connectivity for Oklahoma City.
Further east, $4.25 million in TIGER funds are being used to improve the I-20 Mississippi River Bridge between Mississippi and Louisiana. This rural project — a collaboration between the two states' DOTs — is substantially complete and features a bridge truss and deck built to withstand the minor side-to-side movements this powerful river can generate, whether it's fast-moving downstream soils or minor barge strikes against a bridge pier.
I am very proud of the powerful impact our TIGER investments are creating in communities across the country, and I am excited to kick off this next round of TIGER to continue these much needed investments in America's transportation infrastructure.
To date, DOT has provided more than $4 billion to advance TIGER projects, but demand for each round of awards has far outpaced the available funds. In fact, for the more than 340 projects previously awarded, DOT received more than 6,000 applications requesting more than $124 billion for needed projects.
That's why Grow America, the long-term transportation bill we sent to Congress earlier this week, proposes increasing the funds available for TIGER to $7.5 billion for the next six years.
I encourage eligible applicants to apply. Pre-applications are due May 4, 2015, and final applications are due June 5, 2015. For more information, please visit www.dot.gov/TIGER.
