Transportation Grant Programs
Infrastructure, transit, rail, aviation, maritime, and road safety programs.
Category overview. The Transportation category groups 26 active federal assistance programs from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog. These programs run across 1 distinct federal agency, with the heaviest concentration at U.S. Department of Transportation (26 programs). Every listing feeds into the Grants.gov announcement system, where agencies publish their Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) with specific deadlines, forms, and evaluation criteria. Categories exist to help applicants find relevant programs quickly, but each program has its own authorizing legislation and rules.
Funding scale. SAM.gov publishes funding range data for 26 of the 26 transportation programs. The largest listed award ceiling in this category is $1.0 billion, and the median ceiling across programs with published ranges is $50.0 million. Published award ranges reflect the envelope across all awards a program may issue in a year, not the amount any single applicant should expect. Appropriations, applicant pool size, and scoring all shape the final allocation. First-time applicants are wise to read several historical award announcements in a category to calibrate realistic project budgets.
Who applies. Across the 26 transportation programs, the most frequently listed eligibility categories are state local gov (25 programs), nonprofit (4 programs), for profit small business (1 program). Every applicant must hold an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI), regardless of entity type. Nonprofits should keep their IRS determination letter on file; state and local governments route submissions through an authorizing official; tribal organizations apply under set-aside rules; educational institutions typically work through an institutional pre-award office. The PlainGrants transportation listings link directly to each program's CFDA page, where you can check current eligibility, funding range, open Grants.gov opportunities, and the administering agency.
26 active transportation programs:
Airport Improvement Program
Grants to public-use airports for capital improvements to enhance safety, capacity, and security.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Assistance for Local Transportation Systems
Grants for transportation planning, development, and technical assistance in smaller communities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $3M
Assistance to Small Shipyards
Grants to qualified small shipyards for capital improvements, environmental remediation, and workforce training.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $5M
Bus and Bus Facilities Formula Grants
Formula grants to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and bus-related equipment and facilities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $50M
Capital Assistance for Innovative Mobility
Grants for innovative mobility projects using new technology to improve transportation services.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
Formula grants for transportation services for seniors and persons with disabilities including paratransit.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors in Rural Areas
Grants to enhance transportation options for seniors in rural areas to access medical and other services.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $3M
Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants
Capital grants for new fixed guideway transit systems, extensions, and improvements to existing systems.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $1000M
Federal Transit Formula Grants
Formula grants to urbanized areas for public transportation capital projects and operating assistance.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Rural Transit)
Formula grants to states for transit in rural areas including operations, capital, and planning.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service
Capital grants to develop, improve, and implement high-speed rail corridors and intercity rail services.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $1000M
Highway Planning and Construction
Formula grants to states for highway construction, planning, and research under the Federal-Aid Highway Program.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $500M
Highway Safety Improvement Program
Formula grants for safety improvements on all public roads to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Integrated Mobility Innovation
Grants for innovative mobility research and demonstration projects improving public transportation.
Eligible: state local gov · educational institution
Up to $5M
Job Access and Reverse Commute
Grants to improve access to employment for low-income workers through transit and ridesharing connections.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
National Priority Safety Programs
Incentive grants to states implementing effective programs to reduce drunk driving and other traffic safety issues.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
Public Transportation Emergency Relief
Emergency assistance for public transportation systems damaged by disasters and emergencies.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Rail Capital Assistance
Capital grants for intercity passenger rail improvements, new routes, and infrastructure rehabilitation.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $500M
Railroad Crossing Elimination Program
Grants to eliminate hazardous highway-rail grade crossings to improve safety for communities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity)
Competitive grants for surface transportation infrastructure of local and regional significance.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov
Up to $25M
State and Community Highway Safety
Formula grants to states for highway safety programs addressing traffic safety laws, enforcement, and education.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $20M
State of Good Repair Grants
Capital grants to maintain transit systems in a state of good repair to improve safety and reliability.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $50M
Transportation Alternatives Program
Funds for non-motorized transportation projects including bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and safe routes to school.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (TIFIA)
Credit assistance for major transportation infrastructure investments of national or regional significance.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $1000M
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)
Competitive grants for transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $50M
Transportation Planning
Grants supporting comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation planning in urban areas.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |