National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects) (20.937)
National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects) (Assistance Listing 20.937) is run by the Federal Highway Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $669 million in 9 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $74.3 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $43.5 million. Half of the 9 awards fell between $10.0 million and $113 million, and they ranged from $40,000 to $250 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$669 million
- Grant awards9
- Typical award$43.5 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$124 million
- Size rank310 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceGrant
Key findings
- It is the 310th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 8 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 8 states and territories.
What the program funds
The goal of the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects) program is to identify and award grant funding to transportation projects that will generate national or regional economic, mobility, and or safety benefits.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants for Mega grants are: (1) a State or a group of States; (2) a metropolitan planning organization; (3) a unit of local government; (4) a political subdivision of a State; (5) a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; (6) a Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments; (7) a partnership between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described in subparagraphs (1) through (6); and (8) a group of entities described in any of subparagraphs (1) through (7).
What the money can and cannot pay for
Eligible projects for Mega grants are: a highway or bridge project on the National Multimodal Freight Network; a highway or bridge project on the National Highway Freight Network; a highway or bridge project on the National Highway System; a freight intermodal (including public ports) or freight rail project that provides public benefit; a railway highway grade separation or elimination project; an intercity passenger rail project; a public transportation project that is eligible under assistance under Chapter 53 of title 49 and is a part of any of the project types described above. Mega grants may be used for development-phase activities and costs, including planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, alternatives analysis, data collection and analysis, environmental review and activities to support environmental review, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction activities, including the preparation of a data collection and post-construction analysis plan and construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, acquisition of real property (including land relating to the project and improvements to that land), environmental mitigation (including projects to replace or rehabilitate culverts or reduce stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species), construction contingencies, acquisition of equipment, protection, and operational improvements directly relating to the project.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. NIPA grants may be used for up to 60 percent of future eligible project costs. Other Federal assistance may satisfy the non-Federal share requirement for an NIPA grant, but total Federal assistance for a project receiving an NIPA grant may not exceed 80 percent of the future eligible project costs. Unless otherwise authorized in statute, local cost-share that exceed the 80 percent Federal-share maximum will not be considered matching funds if the source of those funds is ultimately a Federal program. Non-Federal sources include State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue, local funds originating from State or local revenue funded programs, private funds or other funding sources of non-Federal origins. Funds from the Tribal Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. 202), TIFIA, a Federal land management agency, or other Federal source that is expressly authorized in statute may be used for the non-Federal share. Unless otherwise authorized in statute, local cost-share may not be counted as non-Federal share for both the NSFHP and another Federal program. For any project, the Department cannot consider previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered funds towards the matching requirement. Matching funds are subject to the same Federal requirements as awarded funds. Matching requirements are voluntary.This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details.
Deadlines
The FY 23-24 solicitation has an application deadline of 11:59:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, August 21, 2023.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
There is no minimum award size. The maximum award size for any project is 60% of proposed project costs.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: $472.3 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for the North Station Renovation and Draw 1 Bridge Replacement project in Boston, Massachusetts. The project will replace Draw 1 – a 92-year-old bridge that links Amtrak’s Downeaster intercity passenger rail (IPR) service and four separate MBTA regional rail lines to North Station – as well as extend and activate a two-track platform at North Station and replace track, signals, and switches throughout the project area. Despite the poor condition of the bridge, Draw 1 functions as the primary portal for over 1,100 passenger trains each week into North Station, the fifth-largest transit station in the New England region. These trains are routinely subjected to delays attributable to project components, with 165 unique delay events between 2019 and 2021, and an average operational lag of 24.7 minutes. As regional rail ridership continues to grow, this project is critical to preserving and expanding future service in the Northeast.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects) (20.937) awarded $669 million across 9 grant awards, an average of $74.3 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Department of Transportation | Ohio | 1 | $250 million |
| Transportation & Development Louisiana D | Louisiana | 1 | $150 million |
| Rhode Island Dot | Rhode Island | 1 | $113 million |
| Oklahoma Department of Transportation | Oklahoma | 2 | $85.0 million |
| Mississippi Department of Transportation | Mississippi | 1 | $60.0 million |
| Washington St Department of Transportation | Washington | 1 | $10.0 million |
| Iowa Department of Transportation | Iowa | 1 | $629,212 |
| Massachusetts Department of Transportation | Massachusetts | 1 | $40,000 |
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 9 | $669 million | 100% |
By state
6 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | $250 million |
| Louisiana | 1 | $150 million |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $113 million |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $85.0 million |
| Mississippi | 1 | $60.0 million |
| Washington | 1 | $10.0 million |
| Iowa | 1 | $629,212 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $40,000 |