RCN Eligibility Checklist
This checklist helps applicants determine their eligibility for RCN grants and what is necessary to have a successfully completed application. While this tool can support the application process it is not a replacement for the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and applicants should review the NOFO before completing the application process. If you have other questions not discussed here also review our FAQS.
You’re interested in applying for:
- Community Planning Grants
- If yes, go to Section A
- Capital Construction Grants
- If yes, go to Section B
- Regional Partnership Grants
- If yes, go to Section C
Does your project area qualify as a disadvantaged community?
Your project…
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Is at least 51% in an economically disadvantaged, underserved, or located in an area of persistent poverty. Please use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify geographically defined disadvantaged communities.
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has entered or will enter into a community benefits agreement with
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representatives of the community.
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has an anti-displacement policy, a community land trust, or a community advisory board in effect, OR
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has demonstrated a plan for employing local residents in the area impacted by the activity or project proposed under this section.
Eligible Applicants:
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I am a…
If you are any of these than you qualify for both RCP + NAE Community Planning Grants |
I am a…
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Facility Requirements:
Does the lead applicant own the facility?
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Does your transportation facility meet any of the following?
(SEE NOFO section C.3 for definitions of transportation facilities)
RCP Facility Requirements:
1. Creates a barrier to community connectivity, including barriers to mobility, access, or economic development, due to high speeds, grade separations, or other design factors.
2. Provide limited access to highways, viaducts, any other principal arterial facilities, and other facilities such as transit lines, rail lines, gas pipelines, and airports.
NAE Facility Requirements:
3. Create a divide: a surface transportation facility that creates an obstacle to community connectivity by high speeds, grade separation, or other design factors.
4. Create a natural environment burden: a surface transportation facility that is a source of air pollution, noise, stormwater, heat, or other burden to a disadvantaged or underserved community.
- If you selected ALL, you qualify for both RCP + NAE Community Planning Grants, please continue bellow to view federal match requirements.
- If you selected one and two then you qualify for RCP Community Planning Grants ONLY, please verify that you meet federal match requirements bellow.
- If you selected three and four then you qualify for NAE Community Planning Grants ONLY, please verify that you meet federal match requirements bellow.
Funding Match:
Is this project area serving an economically disadvantaged community?
- YES, if applying to ONLY NAE grant skip “Non-Federal Match” section below
- NO, continue bellow.
Do you have a Non-federal match share equal to or greater than 20% from one of these sources?
- State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue,
- Local funds originating from State or local revenue-funded programs,
- Philanthropic funds, or
- Private funds (Grant recipients may also use in-kind contributions toward local match requirements so long as those contributions meet the federal legal requirements).
- If yes, continue bellow.
- If no, AND YOUR PROJECT AREA IS NOT SERVING A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY (please see definition above) then you do not qualify for this grant program (please secure a non-federal match share to qualify).
Could Federal funds be obligated to your project by September 30, 2026?
- If yes, continue below.
- If no, then consider other grant programs:
Congrats you’re ready and eligible to fill out your application!
Reminder: Applications also require the completion of the following documents.
Community Planning and Regional Partnerships Challenge grants with Planning Activities:
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Capital Construction and Regional Partnerships Challenge grants with Construction Activities:
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APPLY by Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 11:59 pm EDT. Submit at Valid Eval:
Does the lead applicant own the facility?
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Eligible Applicants:
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I am a…
If you check any of these than you qualify for both RCP + NAE Capital Construction Grants. Please continue bellow. |
I am a…
If you checked any of these then you ONLY qualify for the NAE Capital Construction Grants. Please, confirm your Facility meets NAE facility requirements in the next section. |
Eligible Facilities:
Does your transportation facility (SEE NOFO section C.3 for definitions of transportation facilities):
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RCP Facility Requirements: 1. Create a barrier to community connectivity, including barriers to mobility, access, or economic development, due to high speeds, grade separations, or other design factors. 2. Provide limited access to highways, viaducts, any other principal arterial facilities, and other facilities such as transit lines, rail lines, gas pipelines, and airports. |
NAE Facility Requirements: 3. Create a divide: a surface transportation facility that creates an obstacle to community connectivity by high speeds, grade separation, or other design factors. 4. Create a natural environment burden: a surface transportation facility that is a source of air pollution, noise, stormwater, heat, or other burden to a disadvantaged or underserved community. |
- If you selected ALL, you qualify for both RCP + NAE Capital Construction Grants, please continue bellow to view federal match requirements.
- If you selected one and two then you qualify for RCP Capital Construction Grants ONLY, please verify that you meet federal match requirements bellow.
- If you selected three and four then you qualify for NAE Capital Construction Grants ONLY, please verify that you meet federal match requirements bellow.
Funding Match:
Is this project area serving an economically disadvantaged community?
- YES, if applying to ONLY NAE grant skip “Non-Federal Match” question bellow
- NO, continue bellow.
Do you have a Non-federal match share from one of these sources?
- State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue,
- Local funds originating from State or local revenue-funded programs,
- Philanthropic funds, or
- Private funds (Grant recipients may also use in-kind contributions toward local match requirements so long as those contributions meet the federal legal requirements).
If YES, is your non-federal match share:
- Equal to or greater than 20% (If you selected only this option than you only qualify for NAE Capital Construction Grants)
- Equal to or greater than 50% (If you selected only this option than you qualify for both NAE and RCP Capital Construction Grants)
If NO, AND YOUR PROJECT AREA IS NOT SERVING A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY then you do not qualify for this grant program (please secure a non-federal match share to qualify).
Required Documentation:
Does your project meet the following:
- Be included in a STIP, TIP, or equivalent document by the time of obligation.
- Have all environmental permitting complete by the time of obligation (unless you’re in preconstruction or permitting).
If yes, then your project meets project readiness for both RCP and NAE Capital Construction Grants.
Does your project have a completed Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA)?
- If YES, then you still qualify for both RCP and NAE Capital Construction Grants.
- If NO, then you only qualify for NAE Capital Construction Grants.
Could Federal funds be obligated to your project by September 30, 2026?
- If YES, continue bellow.
- If NO, then consider applying next year? Or consider another grant program: DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard | US Department of Transportation
Congrats you’re ready and eligible to fill out your application!
Reminder: This application also requires the completion of the following documents.
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APPLY by Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 11:59 pm EDT. Submit at Valid Eval: Capital Construction and Regional Partnerships Challenge with construction activities Grants
Are you applying for a:
- Regional Partnership Challenge Grant with Community Planning Activities
- Go through and complete SECTION A of this document.
- Regional Partnership Challenge Grant with Capital Construction Activities
- Go through and complete SECTION B of this document.
Important Note: If your project has both Planning and Capital elements, apply under the Regional Partnerships Challenge Grant with Capital Construction Activities
If you are working with partners, do you have a signed Memorandum of Understanding between all partners?
- If YES, please continue bellow.
- If NO, DOT encourages for Community Planning Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with planning activities and REQUIRES for Capital Construction Grants and Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants with construction activities, that all lead applicants be the owner of the facility proposed in the project or, if the lead applicant is another eligible entity, to demonstrate a partnership with the Facility Owner. (Please see eligible entities in sections A and B)
If you have completed the above requirements, then please go ahead and select “Regional Partnership Challenge Grant” with for desired activity you have identified above.