The Grants Assistance Program (GAP) is an innovative new program offered by the CRTPO to help its members identify and apply for grant opportunities that fill gaps in transportation funding availabilities. Each grant program has its own set of requirements, eligible activities, and funding availability. The CRTPO has developed these materials to make the grant-seeking process more approachable, unlocking new funding channels for the region.
Alignment with the CRTPO’s Strategic Plan
Goal 1 | Lead on regional mobility issues.
Goal 3 | Foster a culture of collaboration with partners.
Goal 6 | Expand regional transportation funding.
Funding Opportunity Database
The interactive tool identifies federal and state discretionary grant programs with eligible activities that support transportation planning efforts and capital project installation. CRTPO staff strives to maintain and update this database regularly, but visitors are encouraged to check a grant opportunity’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Technical Assistance Requests
The GAP is a technical assistance program for the CRTPO jurisdictions. Through this program, CRTPO staff will assist member jurisdiction staff with identifying, understanding, and pursuing state and federal grant opportunities for transportation-focused planning and capital projects. The GAP is intended to provide assistance for projects that align with the CRTPO’s regional vision for a multimodal transportation network that serves all users.
At this time, technical assistance requests may include:
- Letter of Support
- Notice of Funding Opportunity Review
- Candidate Project Prioritization
- Application Narrative Development
- Application Review
Members interested in pursuing a grant with the CRTPO’s assistance are asked to fill out the GAP Technical Assistance Request Form provided below. If you have any questions, you can contact Brian Elgort at brian.elgort@charlottenc.gov. A PDF version of the online form is also available.
Expanding Regional Funding
The GAP program also includes the CRTPO’s own efforts to pursue federal discretionary grant funding to support regional planning efforts. During the winter of 2023, CRTPO staff surveyed its member jurisdictions to determine how regional priorities best align with existing federal discretionary grant program goals and requirements. Survey responses identified bicycle and pedestrian safety projects as well as traffic safety as the top two individual priorities, while the congestion/mobility category received the most responses overall.
IIJA Grant Strategy Survey Results
| Regional Priorities | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Congestion / Mobility | 22% |
| Bike / Ped / Transit | 20% |
| Technology | 18% |
| Infrastructure Improvements | 18% |
| Multimodal Safety | 16% |
| Resilience | 6% |
Based on these results, the CRTPO identified two primary grant programs to pursue in 2024:
RAISE
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program is administered by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and is focused on funding transportation projects that address climate change, ensure racial equality, and remove barriers to opportunity.
The CRTPO submitted an application titled Making Our Roads SAFER: A Cross-Jurisdictional Study in February 2024 to the RAISE program, seeking $5 million for a study to examine safety, accessibility, sustainability, and connectivity in historically underserved communities throughout the CRTPO planning area.
On June 26, 2024, the CRTPO was awarded $5 million through the RAISE discretionary grant program.
SS4A
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and is also administered by USDOT. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The CRTPO submitted an application in May to complete a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for our three-county planning area.
On September 5, 2024, the CRTPO was awarded $3.15 million through the SS4A discretionary grant program.