The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $3.33 billion in federal funding through grants to 132 projects that aim to undo the damage done to neighborhoods by the past construction of highways, rail lines and other infrastructure that cut through them. schools, workplaces and health communities. care facilities.
The awards, which the DOT announced March 13, include 52 capital construction grants, 71 planning grants and eight regional collaboration grants.
The largest grant, totaling $450 million, went to the Oregon DOT for the I-5 Neighborhood Improvement Project in Portland, Ore. The second largest award, $335.4 million, went to the Massachusetts DOT for a multimodal I-90 project. in Allston.
The third largest was a $180 million grant to the New York State DOT for the I-81 Syracuse Reconnection Project.
In fourth place was a $158.9 million grant to the City of Philadelphia’s “Chinatown Stitch” to join two parts of a neighborhood that were cut off by a Center City freeway.
The fifth largest, at $157.6 million, was another “kick” project, this one in Atlanta. It involves building a new park over I-75 and I-85.
Funding comes from two sources: the Community Reconnection Pilot Program of the Jobs and Infrastructure Investment Act of 2021 (IIJA) and the Neighborhood Equity and Access Discretionary Grant Program of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022.
The DOT says having a joint application for funds from both programs makes it easier for grant seekers to apply for the funds.
The DOT also notes that both programs have similar goals, such as prioritizing aid to disadvantaged neighborhoods and improving residents’ access to various types of basic services.
