This page provides updates and resources related to the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — signed into law on November 15, 2021.  The law expires on September 30, 2026.

The NJTPA has a central role in ensuring North Jersey can take full advantage of IIJA funding and programs. In particular, IIJA provides much needed funding to repair and improve road, rail and bridge infrastructure in the region. To be eligible for this funding, all projects will have to be approved by the NJTPA Board for inclusion in the region’s Transportation Improvement Program.

The Act also offers funding opportunities for local governments to improve mobility for residents which can bolster local economies and quality of life.

Assistance for Applicants

As the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, the NJTPA can assist in coordinating and helping with grant applications and submissions, including:

The NJTPA urges local governments or other organizations to contact us about proposed applications for IIJA funding. This will ensure all concerned parties throughout the region can support and coordinate activities and realize the greatest benefits for the region’s residents. Contact Melissa Hayes, Senior Director of Communications & External Affairs, at mhayes@njtpa.org.

Current Grant Opportunities

  • Safe Streets and Roads for All — The USDOT announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY 2026 program. There are two grant types available: Planning & Demonstration and Implementation. The deadline to apply is May 26 at 5 p.m. Three webinars are scheduled covering Implementation Grants on April 7, Action Plans on April 9 and Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities on April 14. Additional details are available on the calendar and webinar recordings are available here.
  • Crossing Safety Program / Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program — Almost $1.15 billion is available for highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Applications must be submitted no later than June 8 by 11:59 p.m. Visit the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for details on projects and recipients, as well as webinar recordings.
  • Bridge Investment Program (BIP) — The Bridge Investment Program is a competitive, discretionary program that focuses on existing bridges to reduce the overall number of bridges in poor condition, or in fair condition at risk of falling into poor condition. It also expands applicant eligibilities to create opportunity for all levels of government to be direct recipients of program funds. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) amended the Notice of Funding Opportunity for FYs 2023 through 2026 Bridge Project grant applications and FYs 2023 through FY 2026 Planning grant applications of the Bridge Investment Program. Bridge grants are available for bridges with total eligible project costs up to $100 million, with minimum grant awards of $2.5 million and maximum awards of 80 percent of the total eligible project costs. Planning grants are available for bridge with maximum awards of 80 percent of the total eligible costs. Applications for planning grants are due June 15. Applications for bridge projects are due June 29.
  • Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program — More than $2 billion is available for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The Notice of Funding Opportunity outlines the application criteria. Applications must be submitted no later than June 22 by 11:59 p.m.
  • Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning (TOD Pilot Program) — The FTA announced $28.4 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year 2026 toward development of a comprehensive or site-specific planning study. The maximum federal share is 80 percent of the net project cost. For more information on eligible activities and projects, visit the FTA site. The application deadline is July 10.
  • FIFA 2026 World Cup Funding — The FTA announced more than $100 million available for public transportation supporting the 2026 FIFA World Cup to help ensure transit agencies can meet increased demand. The 2026 FIFA World Cup Funding allows for 100 percent Federal share to support planning, capital, and operating expenses supporting matches and other public events held in host cities. Funding will be apportioned by a formula accounting for stadium capacity and number of matches in each of the 11 host cities, The FTA hosted a 2026 World Cup Funding Webinar on March 11. A recording of the webinar is available here.

Grant Programs

The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program can be used to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects with significant local or regional impact The BUILD program has previously been called the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programs. The eligibility requirements of BUILD allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. 

USDOT issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY 2026 BUILD Grants on November 26. Applications were due February 24, 2026. BUILD allows project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. 

The Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Program groups together three grants: the Mega Program (National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program), Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural), and INFRA Grant Program (the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects Program).

Mega: Supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits.

Rural: Supports projects that improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life.

INFRA: Awards competitive grants for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.

The Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant program provides funding to ensure surface transportation resilience to natural hazards including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure. 

There are four types of PROTECT grants:

  1. Planning
  2. Resilience Improvement
  3. Community Resilience and Evacuation Route
  4. At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP) aims to advance and support reconnection of communities divided by transportation infrastructure—with a priority on helping disadvantaged communities improve access to daily needs (jobs, schools, healthcare, grocery stores, and recreation). RCP offers two tracks of grants: planning and construction. 

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program provides financial support for planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users and operators, personal conveyance, micromobility users, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators.

The SS4A program supports the development of comprehensive safety action plans that identify the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community and the implementation of projects and strategies to address roadway safety issues. The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants.

Planning and Demonstration Grants are used to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan, as well as carry out demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan.  

Implementation Grants are used to implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan and may also bundle funding requests for supplemental planning and demonstration activities that inform the Action Plan.