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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program

Grant Awards Announced for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025

 

$20 Million Awarded  – Read the Press Release 

On April 28th,2026,  the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) program awarded $20 million to 20 awardees in 17 states to accelerate the delivery of regional infrastructure through innovative approaches to planning, financing, and partnerships. These projects will expand transportation options, spur economic development, and bolster important regional connections. Learn about the selected Accelerators for Fiscal Years 2024-2025 (FY24-25).

Page Contents

Program Overview

FY24-25 Award Recipients

Resources and Additional Information

Program Overview

Authorized in the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST), the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) Program assists entities in developing improved infrastructure priorities and financing strategies for the accelerated development of a project that is likely eligible for U.S. Department of Transportation credit assistance.

Accelerators serve defined geographic areas and act as resources to:

  • Evaluate and promote innovative financing methods for local projects.
  • Build the capacity of state, local, and tribal governments to evaluate and structure projects involving private investment.
  • Provide technical assistance and information on best practices for infrastructure financing.
  • Increase transparency in infrastructure project analysis and innovative financing for public infrastructure projects.
  • Facilitate creation of pipelines of investment-ready infrastructure projects.
  • Bundle smaller-scale and rural projects into more attractive, larger investment opportunities.

Through the RIA Program, the Build America Bureau has funded 35 Accelerators, creating a network of resources to advance transportation infrastructure projects. These accelerators are:

  • Developing funding and financing strategies to identify and leverage feasible funding mechanisms, such as grants, loans, public-private partnerships (P3s), and state and local contributions.
  • Designing or enhancing effective governance frameworks to manage project delivery effectively. Laying the technical groundwork for specific infrastructure projects through feasibility studies, conceptual designs, and cost estimation.
  • Functioning as a convener to facilitate interaction among stakeholders, such as government entities, private investors, community groups, and technical experts. Serving as an educator and technical resource by providing training, best practices, and technical assistance.
  • Conducting statutory and regulatory compliance analyses to evaluate project requirements related to federal, state, and local laws, including environmental, labor, procurement, and other matters. 

  • Completing specialized analyses, such as traffic and revenue modeling, economic impact assessments, and risk evaluations to inform decision-making.

     

FY24-25 Award Recipients

On April 28th,2026, the Build America Bureau announced a $20 million investment in 20 Regional Infrastructure Accelerators located in 17 states across the U.S. These funds will help project sponsors advance multimodal transportation projects with regional significance such as freight corridors, interstate highways, transit and passenger rail, bridges, ports, and airports. The projects will result in safer transportation networks, enhanced operational efficiency, and economic growth across the country while expanding recipients’ capacity to implement innovative financing and planning approaches. 


Of the 20 recipients of FY24-25 RIA funds, 6 are existing Accelerators and 14 are first-time RIA awardees. This funding will support the existing Accelerators in building on their progress, while the new Accelerators will kick off new efforts under the program. Across all RIA program years, $54 million has been awarded to a total of 35 Accelerators. 
 

Resources and Additional Information

Last updated: Tuesday, April 28, 2026