Continuing the deployment of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has allocated $829.6 million to enhance the resilience of 80 infrastructure projects nationwide against floods, sea-level rise, and other climate change impacts. These projects span across 37 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
The grants, announced on April 11, stem from the IIJA’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, funded by the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years.
During a press briefing on April 10, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the pressing need for these investments, citing numerous instances of transportation infrastructure disruption due to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Buttigieg stressed that current infrastructure was not designed to withstand the intensifying climate conditions.
The PROTECT program, allotted $8.7 billion over five years by the IIJA, comprises two components: $7.3 billion allocated through formula to state DOTs, and $1.4 billion in discretionary grants awarded through competitive selection by U.S. DOT.
The latest round of grants, drawn from the $1.4 billion discretionary pool, received overwhelming interest, with 304 eligible applications totaling $3.5 billion in requests.
Of the newly awarded grants, $621 million is designated for 36 resilience improvement projects, encompassing activities like road relocation, bridge elevation, drainage enhancement, and other resilience measures. An additional $119 million will fortify “at-risk coastal infrastructure” across eight projects, safeguarding highways and non-rail infrastructure along coastal regions. Moreover, $45 million will fund 26 planning initiatives, while another $45 million will support 10 evacuation route enhancements.
Among the notable grants, the Oglala Tribe in South Dakota secured the largest award of $60 million for road enhancements within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received $56.4 million for bridge replacement, while Alaska DOT was granted $40.5 million for infrastructure rehabilitation and resilience improvements in rural communities. The New York State Thruway Authority and the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, also received significant funding for bridge repairs and stormwater infrastructure upgrades, respectively.
