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Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) Program - FY 2024 (2)

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation
CFDA: 20.223
Federal FON: DOTBAB01062025
Office: Office of the Secretary of Transportation Build America Bureau
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 06/16/2025 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 05/08/2025
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $20,000,000 (Confirmed)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to assist eligible entities in developing improved infrastructure priorities and financing strategies for the accelerated development of projects that are eligible for funding under the funding agency's Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US1116. Projects are not required to apply for or receive TIFIA credit assistance to be eligible; however, applicants that are considering the appropriateness of innovative financing methods to accelerate the delivery of eligible projects are strongly encouraged to apply TIFIA assistance.

This program will designate and fund RIAs that will:

  • Serve a defined geographic area
  • Act as a resource to qualified entities in a designated geographic area, including:
    • State or multistate: serving one state or a group of state entities with common interest in transportation projects being delivered
    • Urban or metropolitan planning organization (MPO): serving local governments, a group of local jurisdictions with transportation functions within a metropolitan area, or MPOs sharing state boundaries
    • Rural: serving a region of rural communities or multiple rural communities across state lines
    • Other: serving multiple jurisdictions with shared priorities and interests, such as a river basin or a transportation corridor
  • Demonstrate the effectiveness of the RIA to expedite the delivery of projects eligible for the TIFIA program

Award recipients will provide the following types of assistance to TIFIA-eligible projects:

  • Project planning
  • Studies and analyses, including feasibility, market, project costs, cost-benefit, value for money, public benefit, economic assessments, and environmental reviews, studies, and analyses
  • Revenue forecasting, funding and financing options analyses, application of best practices, innovative financing/procurement, and public-private partnerships, when appropriate
  • Preliminary engineering and design work
  • Statutory and regulatory framework analyses
  • Assessment of opportunities for private financing, project bundling, and/or phasing
  • Enhancement of rural project sponsors’ capacity to use the TIFIA program and, to the extent applicable, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program, private activity bonds (PABs), and other innovative financing methods
  • Other direct, project-specific support, as appropriate

Projects that demonstrate long-term self-sustainability will be given greater consideration.

Additional consideration will be given to new applicants and applicants that demonstrate strong collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders, as detailed on page 12 of the NOFA file.

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are public entities, including:

  • States
  • Multistate or multijurisdictional groups
  • Municipalities
  • Counties
  • Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including port authorities and public transportation agencies
  • Tribal governments or consortia of tribal governments
  • Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
  • Regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs)
  • Regional transportation commissions
  • Political subdivisions of states or local governments
  • Combination of two or more eligible entities

Eligible applicants may be located within U.S. territories.

If more than one public entity is included in a single application, one entity must be designated as the lead applicant. Applications will be accepted from a partnership between one or more eligible entities and another U.S. party, such as a private entity or a consulting or engineering firm, as long as one of the eligible public entities is designated as the lead applicant. Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which applicants demonstrate strong collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders, as detailed on page 12 of the NOFA file.

Designated RIAs act as a resource to qualified entities in a designated geographic area, including:

  • State or multistate: serving one state or a group of state entities with common interest in transportation projects being delivered
  • Urban or MPO: serving local governments, a group of local jurisdictions with transportation functions within a metropolitan area, or MPOs sharing state boundaries
  • Rural: serving a region of rural communities or multiple rural communities across state lines
  • Other: serving multiple jurisdictions with shared priorities and interests, such as a river basin or a transportation corridor

Ideally, when considering all rounds of awards through this program, there will be a diversity of RIAs selected for awards based on geography, organizational structure, operational business model, and focus.

All applicants must demonstrate, and will be evaluated based on, demonstrated experience and qualifications, as detailed on pages 11-12 of the NOFA file.

Priority will be given to new applicants. 

Previous award recipients include:

  • City of Tampa (FL)
  • San Diego Association of Governments (CA)
  • Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (GA)
  • Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) (OH)
  • Suffolk County (NY)

Refer to the Award file for additional information on previous award recipients.

Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
Consortia
Native American Tribe
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 16, 2025.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • Cover page
  • Table of contents
  • Application narrative:
    • Applicant information
    • Description of proposed geographic/jurisdictional region
    • Accelerator proposal
    • Budget, sources, and uses of funds
    • Selection criteria responses
  • Supporting data and documentation, including maps and graphics (as applicable)

In general, application narratives may not exceed 30 pages. The only substantive portions that may exceed the 30-page limit are documents supporting assertions or conclusions. Applications must be formatted on single-spaced pages with one-inch margins, using a standard font, such as Times New Roman, no smaller than 12-point in size.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

  • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
  • SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Experience/qualifications
  • Partnerships
  • Business model
  • Pipeline
  • Readiness
  • Self-sustainability
  • Risk

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $20,000,000 (Confirmed)
Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program, however, projects that demonstrate long-term self-sustainability will be given greater consideration. Matching contributions are not an independent application evaluation criterion, but will be considered to the extent that they are relevant to the application evaluation criteria.

Applicants should detail any cash and/or in-kind contributions in the application.

Projects are not required to apply for or receive Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit assistance to be eligible; however, applicants that are considering the appropriateness of innovative financing methods to accelerate the delivery of eligible projects are strongly encouraged to apply TIFIA assistance.

Funding Notes:

A total of $20 million is available to support approximately six to ten cooperative agreements through this program. Awards are expected to range from $975,000 to $2 million; however, the funding agency may make smaller or larger awards, depending on the applications received.

Ideally, when considering all rounds of awards through this program, there will be a diversity of RIAs selected for awards based on geography, organizational structure, operational business model, and focus.

The initial project period will span two years, with an option for a third year for RIAs that meet or exceed agreed-upon performance targets.

Costs for non-domestic travel must be approved in writing by the funding agency to be eligible.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Pre-award costs
  • Application preparation costs
  • Construction of any project being complemented or aided by the proposed RIA

For FY 2023, 14 awards ranging from $974,000 to $2 million were provided through this program. For FY 2022, five awards ranging from $454,842 to $1.5 million were provided. For FY 2021, a total of $5 million was distributed via five awards ranging from $295,000 to $1.47 million. Refer to the Award file for details.

Contacts:

Carl Ringgold
(202) 913-3748
Carl.Ringgold@dot.gov

Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
Build America Bureau
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to Carl Ringgold.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US17142_NOFA_FY2024_2.pdf (384.4 Kb)
Award File: US17142_Award_FY2024_2.pdf (541.6 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients. Additional program resources can be found online at www.transportation.gov.

Grant Keywords
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Grant Categories
Community Development
Rural Issues
Transportation