Category · 26 programs
Transportation grant programs
Infrastructure, transit, rail, aviation, maritime, and road safety programs.
- 26
- Programs
- 1
- Agencies
- $1.0B
- Largest ceiling
The verdict
According to SAM.gov Assistance Listings program count among categories on PlainGrants, Transportation ranks #10 of 10. The Transportation category spans 26 federal programs across 1 agency, led by Transportation with 26.
- 26
- programs
- $1.0 billion
- largest listed ceiling
- 26
- at Transportation (top agency)
- 25
- state local gov eligible
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), tribal gov (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.
Where Transportation sits among all 10 categories
SAM.gov Assistance Listings program inventory across every PlainGrants category. Transportation is marked; class size is not a funding-quality ranking.
Transportation vs all categories by program count
Where this category's inventory sits among every tracked assistance class
26 10th of 10 the lowest of 10 categories
Categories, banded by SAM.gov program inventory
Each bar is a labelled band; taller bars hold more categories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source SAM.gov Assistance Listings · 2026-08-10
All transportation programs
26 active transportation programs, ordered by listed funding ceiling.
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
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
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
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
Rail Capital Assistance
Capital grants for intercity passenger rail improvements, new routes, and infrastructure rehabilitation.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $500M
Airport Improvement Program
Grants to public-use airports for capital improvements to enhance safety, capacity, and security.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Railroad Crossing Elimination Program
Grants to eliminate hazardous highway-rail grade crossings to improve safety for communities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Federal Transit Formula Grants
Formula grants to urbanized areas for public transportation capital projects and operating assistance.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
Public Transportation Emergency Relief
Emergency assistance for public transportation systems damaged by disasters and emergencies.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $100M
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
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
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
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
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
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
Capital Assistance for Innovative Mobility
Grants for innovative mobility projects using new technology to improve transportation services.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $10M
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
Transportation Planning
Grants supporting comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation planning in urban areas.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
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
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
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
Integrated Mobility Innovation
Grants for innovative mobility research and demonstration projects improving public transportation.
Eligible: state local gov · educational institution
Up to $5M
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
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
Assistance for Local Transportation Systems
Grants for transportation planning, development, and technical assistance in smaller communities.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $3M
Working this category
How to move from this list of 26 transportation programs to an application.
- Screen yourself against every program at once with the eligibility finder, then shortlist by award size. Eligibility finder
- Read several historical award announcements in this category to calibrate a realistic project budget before you write. How to apply
- Every applicant needs an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID, start that early. First-time checklist
Listed funding ceilings are program envelopes, not the amount any single applicant should expect.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog tracked 82,290 federal grant opportunities across 504 assistance programs and 24 federal agencies as of August 2026. See our methodology for how this data is sourced and verified.
| Publisher | PlainGrants |
| Sources | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |