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U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $10 Million TIGER Grant for Montana

Friday, October 30, 2015

Projects Target Future Needs in Rural and Urban Communities Nationwide

Kalispell, MT – U.S. Transportation Under Secretary Peter Rogoff announced today that the Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Kalispell a $10 million TIGER grant to initiate the revitalization of downtown Kalispell. The project is one of 39 federally-funded transportation projects in 34 states selected to receive a total of $500 million under the Department’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2015 program. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced project selections for this seventh round of TIGER grants on October 29.

The Department received 627 eligible applications from 50 states and several U.S. territories, including Tribal governments, requesting 20 times the $500 million available for the program, or $10.1 billion for needed transportation projects.

“Transportation is always about the future.  If we're just fixing today's problems, we'll fall further and further behind.  We already know that a growing population and increasing freight traffic will require our system to do more," said Secretary Foxx.  “In this round of TIGER, we selected projects that focus on where the country’s transportation infrastructure needs to be in the future; ever safer, ever more innovative, and ever more targeted to open the floodgates of opportunity across America.”

The $10 million TIGER grant will fund the removal and relocation of rail from downtown Kalispell to Glacier Rail Park to accommodate existing and prospective customers. Once removed, the area will be developed into a 10,000-foot trail and park stretching across the community.

"This project will truly transform Kalispell, removing freight trains from the heart of the city.  No longer will trains block folks from getting around downtown.  And the community will get a new recreational trail for everyone to enjoy along with a new industrial park to bring in more jobs." said Under Secretary for Policy Peter Rogoff. “This project rose to the top in a very tough competition because of all the benefits it will provide in strengthening the local economy and improving the quality of life for Kalispell citizens.  The Obama Administration is proud to be their partner in this effort."

“If we are only building for the present, we are really building for the past,” Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Sarah Feinberg said. “This TIGER grant will accomplish in Northwest Montana what all good transportation projects should do: increase safety and connect communities to opportunities and high-paying jobs.”

This is the seventh TIGER round since 2009, bringing the total grant amount to $4.6 billion provided to 381 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, including 134 projects to support rural and tribal communities. Demand for the program has been overwhelming; to date, the Department of Transportation has received more than 6,700 applications requesting more than $134 billion for transportation projects across the country. 

The GROW AMERICA Act, the Administration’s surface transportation legislative proposal, would keep TIGER roaring with $7.5 billion over six years for future TIGER grants.

Click here for additional information on individual TIGER grants.

 

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