U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces 2014 TIGER Grants

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Fox recently announced 2014 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants  totaling $6oo million for 72 projects across the country. From the Department’s press release,

The Department received 797 eligible applications from 49 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, an increase from the 585 applications received in 2013.  Overall, applicants requested 15 times the $600 million available for the program, or $9.5 billion for needed transportation projects.

Projects funded through this round of grants support the following goals:

  • Improving Access to Jobs and Creating New “Ladders of Opportunity
  • Reversing neglect by repairing U.S. infrastructure, enhancing quality of life and commerce
  • Supporting Game-Changing Local Initiatives
  • Helping communities plan for the future

Maryland received approximately $16 million for 3 transit and 2 roadway projects.

  • South County Circulator – Funds will be used to purchase additional buses for the Oxen Hill and Branch Avenue circulator routes and demand service to meet the ever-increasing needs of a growing community, and to reduce congestion and over-crowding on the current system.
  • Howard Street Livable Communities – This Livable Communities project involves the demolition of existing worn out shelters and replacement of light rail and bus shelters in the busiest transit corridor in Baltimore City, located along Howard Street.
  • Westport Transit-Oriented Development – The City of Baltimore and the MTA will develop the Kent Street Plaza and Pedestrian Corridor to expand bus ridership and access to the existing light rail system, strengthening the economically distressed community and the Westport Waterfront Project.
  • Hanover Street Bridge Plan – The Hanover Street Bridge Multimodal Corridor Plan will create a corridor plan to identify feasible methods of rehabilitating or replacing the Hanover Street Bridge, a nearly 100-year old bridge that connects the City of Baltimore to the Port of Baltimore.
  • Fort Meade Multimodal Accessibility Project – The MD 175 Fort Meade Multimodal Accessibility Project is a road widening project that would upgrade MD 175 from an existing two-lane undivided arterial to a six-lane divided arterial, complete with a trail, sidewalks, and on-road bicycle facilities.