Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program (20.940)
Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program (Assistance Listing 20.940) is run by the Federal Highway Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $135 million in 69 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $1.0 million. Half of the 69 awards fell between $552,160 and $2.0 million, and they ranged from $41,000 to $30.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$135 million
- Grant awards69
- Typical award$1.0 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$67.9 million
- Size rank718 of 1824
- Type of assistanceGrant
Key findings
- It is the 718th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 70% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 34 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program provides technical assistance and federal financial assistance for planning grants and capital construction grants to address infrastructure barriers, reconnect communities, and improve peoples’ lives.
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 RCP Program Planning Grants are: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization. Eligible applicants for RCP Program Capital Construction Grants must be the owner(s) of an eligible facility to carry out an eligible project for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. Owners of an eligible facility, for the purposes of submitting a grant application, may submit a joint application with: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Eligible Planning Grant Activities and Costs: Planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing, retrofitting, or mitigating an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, including evaluations of: current traffic patterns of the facility and the surrounding street network. ? the capacity of existing transportation networks to maintain mobility needs. an analysis of alternative roadway designs or other uses for the right-of-way. ? the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the mobility of freight and people?. the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the safety of the traveling public. ? the cost to restore community connectivity and to convert the facility to a different roadway design or use, compared to any expected maintenance or reconstruction costs.? the anticipated economic impact and any economic development opportunities that would be created? from the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or proposed alternative use. the environmental, public health, and community impacts of retaining or reconstructing the facility and the anticipated effect of the proposed alternative use or roadway design.? Public engagement activities, including community visioning, to provide opportunities for public input into a plan to remove and convert an eligible facility.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching funds may include Non-Federal sources such as State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue, local funds originating from State or local revenue-funded programs, or private funds. In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306, for all programs, grant recipients may also use in-kind or cash contributions toward local match requirements so long as those contributions meet the requirements under 2 CFR § 200.306(b). In-kind contributions may include compensation for community members’ time, materials, pro bono work provided to the project by third parties, and donations from private sponsors. Any in-kind contributions used to fulfill the cost-share requirement for Planning Grants and Capital Construction Grants must: be in accordance with the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E; include documented evidence of completion within the period of performance; and support the execution of the eligible activities in Section C.4. See 23 CFR § 710.505 for requirements related to the donation of real property. RCP Program grant recipients will, in general, need to pay project costs up front. RCP Program Funds are administered on a reimbursement basis. DOT will only reimburse recipients for costs incurred after a grant agreement has been executed, allowable expenses are incurred, and valid requests for reimbursement are submitted.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Planning Grants In FY 2024, DOT may award up to $100 million for eligible feasibility studies, public engagement, and other planning activities. BIL specifies that the maximum RCP Program Planning Grant award is $2?million. DOT anticipates that Planning Grants may range from $100,000 to $2,000,000. Capital Construction Grants In FY 2024, DOT may award up to $500 million for eligible construction activities necessary to carry out a project to remove, retrofit, or mitigate an existing eligible facility. BIL specifies that the minimum capital construction grant award is $5 million. DOT anticipates that Capital Construction Grants may range from $5 million to $100 million.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2022: Shoreline Drive Gateway Project, Long Beach, CA - $30M Capital Construction West Baltimore United, City of Baltimore, MD - $2M PlanningFiscal Year2023: The Chinatown Stitch: Reconnecting Philadelphia’s Chinatown includes: (1) Phase 1 final engineering and design; (2) Permitting and bidding activities; (3) Phase 1 construction activities; and (4) the implementation of the Equitable Outcomes Action Plan. With support from the USDOT, the City and its partners will complete the Phase 1 design and construction work for a highway cap to reconnect Chinatown, a community that is disproportionately impacted by the Vine Street Expressway (I-676). The proposed project aims to address historic inequities caused by transportation infrastructure, restore community connectivity, and improve quality of life.Fiscal Year2024: The City of Fridley Northtown Railyard Overpass project will construct a vehicle and pedestrian bridge over the BNSF Northtown Yard in Fridley, Minnesota. This bridge will connect two historically divided neighborhoods, improving access to essential services, jobs, and recreational opportunities for residents, and reducing emergency response times to sensitive facilities, such as a nursing home and elementary school.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program (20.940) awarded$135 million across 69 grant awards, an average of $2.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Long Beach | California | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Denver, City & County of | Colorado | 1 | $10.0 million |
| Cuyahoga County | Ohio | 1 | $7.0 million |
| Baltimore, City of | Maryland | 1 | $6.0 million |
| New York City Dept-Parks-Rec | New York | 1 | $5.8 million |
| New York City Department of Transportation | New York | 1 | $5.6 million |
| City of San Antonio | Texas | 1 | $3.0 million |
| Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency | Tennessee | 1 | $2.7 million |
| City of New Orleans | Louisiana | 1 | $2.2 million |
| City of Milwaukee | Wisconsin | 1 | $2.0 million |
| City of Roswell, Georgia | Georgia | 1 | $2.0 million |
| City of Little Rock | Arkansas | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Rethink Coalition Inc. | Indiana | 1 | $2.0 million |
| City of Pasadena | California | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Reconnectrondo | Minnesota | 1 | $2.0 million |
| City of Los Angeles-Board of Public Work | California | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Mundo Gardens | California | 1 | $2.0 million |
| San Francisco County Transportation Authority | California | 1 | $2.0 million |
| City of Chattanooga | Tennessee | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc. | Michigan | 1 | $2.0 million |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 89% of the money, nonprofits 9.2% and tribes 1.4%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 56 | $121 million | 89% |
| Nonprofits | 9 | $12.4 million | 9.2% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 3 | $1.9 million | 1.4% |
| Colleges and universities | 1 | $548,492 | 0.4% |
By state
26 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6 | $40.0 million |
| New York | 4 | $12.3 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $10.0 million |
| Ohio | 3 | $8.3 million |
| Maryland | 2 | $6.3 million |
| Georgia | 4 | $5.1 million |
| Virginia | 4 | $4.9 million |
| Tennessee | 2 | $4.7 million |
| Texas | 3 | $4.6 million |
| Florida | 4 | $4.1 million |
| Minnesota | 2 | $3.6 million |
| Louisiana | 2 | $3.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $3.0 million |
| Arkansas | 2 | $2.5 million |
| Illinois | 2 | $2.4 million |
| Indiana | 2 | $2.4 million |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $2.3 million |
| Michigan | 2 | $2.1 million |
| Kansas | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Connecticut | 2 | $1.3 million |
| Iowa | 1 | $1.2 million |
| Alaska | 2 | $1.2 million |
| Missouri | 1 | $1.1 million |
| North Carolina | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Arizona | 1 | $900,000 |
| Alabama | 1 | $800,000 |
| Oregon | 1 | $800,000 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $250,000 |
| South Carolina | 1 | $160,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $122,671 |
| Nevada | 1 | $67,444 |
| Delaware | 1 | $41,000 |