Bridge Investment Program

Grant Summary

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Agency:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Category:

Bridge Development, Transportation, Safety

Eligible Applicants:

States; metropolitan planning organizations that serve urban areas with a population of 200,000 or more; units or groups of local governments; political subdivisions; tribal governments; special purpose districts or authorities; and multi-state entities.

Total IIJA Funding:

$12 billion

Overview:

The Bridge Investment Program (BIP) provides funding to improve existing bridges in poor condition or at risk of falling into poor condition and to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridges. Grants are awarded under three project types: Large Bridge Projects, Bridge Projects, and Planning Grants. Eligible applicants may submit applications for any of the three funding categories, but each category has distinct eligibility and selection criteria and application deadlines.

FY23-26 Grant Funding:

For fiscal years (FYs) 2023-26, the BIP program’s NOFOs (Large Bridge; Bridge and Planning) will allow rolling applications for Large Bridge, Bridge, and Planning grants: $9.62 billion is available from FY23 to FY26 through the Large Bridge and Bridge Project grant categories, and $80 million is available from FY23 to FY26 through the Planning grant category. Applications not awarded in the requested fiscal year could still be considered for future funding under the next fiscal year dependent on their merit.

Match Requirements:

The match requirements vary by grant type. For Large Bridge grants (total cost greater than $100 million), the federal share may not exceed 50% of total eligible project costs. For Bridge grants (total cost no less than $3.125 million and no greater than $100 million), the federal share may not exceed 80% of total eligible project costs, depending on the type of project. Planning grants do not have a maximum or minimum award size, but non-federal matching funds are required and the total federal contributions for the project cannot exceed the federal share payable amounts (typically 80% but can vary depending on project type and local conditions. See 23 USC 120 for more information).

Key Dates:

The NOFOs (Large Bridge; Bridge and Planning) for FY23 to FY26 these grants are currently open. Funding amounts and closing dates vary by fiscal year:

FY25 Deadlines:

• • • Large Bridge Project Application Due: August 1, 2024
    • Bridge Project Application Due: November 1, 2024
    • Planning Project Application Due: October 1, 2024

FY26 Deadlines:

• • • Large Bridge Project Application Due: August 1, 2025
    • Bridge Project Application Due: November 1, 2025
    • Planning Project Application Due: October 1, 2025

Key Funding Criteria:

Based on the FYs23-26 NOFO (Large Bridge; Bridge and Planning), awarded BIP projects are required to provide safe accommodation of pedestrians or bicyclists, as applicable, on the bridge, when both of the following conditions are met: (1) the bridge is located on a highway on which pedestrians or bicyclists are allowed to operate at each end of the bridge; (2) FHWA determines that safe accommodation can be provided at a reasonable cost.

Key evaluation criteria for the FY23-26 BIP grants include:

• • • The extent to which the project would bring the bridge(s) into a state of good repair
    • The extent to which the project would improve the safety of the bridge(s)
    • How the project will improve the mobility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight; and, how the project will increase regional or national economic competitiveness
    • The extent to which the project addresses climate change, improves resilience, supports environmental sustainability, and addresses environmental justice
    • The extent to which a project will improve the quality of life for local, regional, or national users of the bridge or facility
    • The extent to which the project will deploy innovative financing, innovative project designs or construction techniques, and innovative technology and the benefits of those methods

Please refer to the FYs23-26 Large Bridge NOFO and the FYs23-26 Bridge and Planning NOFO for more details on funding and evaluation criteria for each grant type.

Opportunities for Climate and Racial Wealth Equity:

Based on the FYs23-26 NOFOs, DOT will assess whether the project will address climate change, improve resiliency, support environmental sustainability, and address environmental justice based on data submitted with the application that demonstrates the benefits to each of these areas of consideration. DOT will consider how the project will proactively address equity and barriers to opportunity, improve quality of life in rural areas or urbanized areas, and benefit Historically Disadvantaged Communities or populations, or Areas of Persistent Poverty. Applicants must plan to meaningfully engage communities affected by the project, with effective public participation that is accessible to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, age, and sex. Equity considerations should be integrated into the planning, development, and implementation of transportation investments, including the use of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs).

Eligible Activities:

Based on the FYs23-26 NOFOs, The following projects are eligible for BIP funding:

• • • Large Bridge Projects: Replacing, rehabilitating, preserving, or protecting one or more bridges on the National Bridge Inventory (NBI), or bridge bundling and culvert projects under the BIP Program. Total eligible project costs must be greater than $100 million.
    • Bridge Projects: Replacing, rehabilitating, preserving, or protecting one or more bridges on the NBI. Total eligible project costs are not to exceed $100 million.
    • Planning Grants: Planning, feasibility analyses, and revenue forecasting associated with the development of a project that would subsequently be eligible to apply for assistance under the BIP.