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Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program

General Grant Program Information

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP) aims to advance and support reconnection of communities divided by transportation infrastructure—with a priority on helping disadvantaged communities improve access to daily needs (jobs, schools, healthcare, grocery stores, and recreation). RCP offers two tracks of grants: planning and construction. 

A Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is required for capital projects. For more information about BCAs, see What Is a BCA? and USDOT's Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grants.

Opportunity Status:
Closed
Posted Date:
Close Date:
Eligible Applicants:
State Governments; Local Governments; Federally Recognized Tribes and Affiliated Groups; Planning and Project Organizations; Non-profit
Eligible Activities:
Planning; Construction; Technical Assistance, Workforce Development, and Training/Education; Accessibility
Transportation Type:
Bike/Ped Railway Roadway Transit
Most Recent Annual Program Funding Amount:
$607,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:
Yes
Match Waiver:
No
Grant Opportunity ID:
DOT-RCP-FY24-01
Grant Opportunity Link:
FY24 Grants.gov Opportunity: Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program
Links to Additional Information:
Agency:
USDOT / Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for the RCP program include the following: 

RCP Community Planning Grants:

  1. A State;  
  2. A unit of local government; 
  3. A Tribal government; 
  4. A metropolitan planning organization; or 
  5. A non-profit organization.

RCP Capital Construction Grants:

  1. Owner(s) of the eligible facility proposed in the project for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed; or  
  2. An eligible Community Planning Grant applicant may submit the application in partnership with the facility owner to carry out the proposed project. 

See the NOFO for additional details on eligibility.

Eligible Uses

RCP Community Planning Grants:

Eligible planning uses include but are not limited to:

  • Public engagement activities 
  • Planning/feasibility studies 
  • Engineering
  • Traffic studies
  • Capacity measurements 
  • Roadway design
  • Environmental review
  • Impact surveys (e.g., community, mobility, health, economy, workforce, culture)
  • Safety evaluations 
  • Cost estimations
  • Restoration and development proposals

RCP Capital Construction Grants:

Eligible construction uses include:

  • Preliminary and detailed design activities and associated environmental studies
  • Predevelopment/preconstruction
  • Permitting activities (including the NEPA process) 
  • Removal, retrofit, or mitigation of eligible facilities 
  • Replacement of eligible facilities with new facilities that restore community connectivity
  • Delivering community benefits or mitigating the impacts identified through the NEPA process
  • Other planning and project development expenses for the capital construction project

Funding Information

Funds for the fiscal years (FY) 2024, 2025, and 2026 RCP grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning and capital construction activities that aim to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or replacement of highways, roadways, or other infrastructure facilities that create barriers to mobility, access, or economic development. 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifies that the maximum Community Planning Grant award funded with RCP funds is $2 million and that the minimum Capital Construction Grant award funded with RCP funds is $5 million. 

Federal cost-sharing for planning grants is 80 percent; applicants must provide the remaining 20 percent using non-federal funds (partial in-kind contributions allowed). The cost-share for construction grants is 50 percent, but applicants may use other federal funds to supplement their contribution for a maximum federal cost-share of 80 percent. 

For more information, please contact ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov(link sends email). 

Contact Information

Andrew Emanuele
Grantor
ReconnectingCommunities@dot.gov(link sends email)

Disclaimer:
The Dashboard provides users with a high-level overview of relevant Federal discretionary grant programs. The information in the Dashboard is maintained as a secondary resource and may not be updated with the most recent changes to each program's primary guidance materials. Accordingly, please refer to the Federal grant-making agency for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on a grant opportunity in the Dashboard.

Last updated Date: