Iowa DOT grants and programs

Iowa DOT Grants and Programs (Funding Guide)

Below you will find information regarding state and federal programs that provide transportation project funding of interest to local governments and other entities. Transit funding opportunities are listed below and are applicable to designated public transit agencies or intercity bus providers only. This information is intended to serve as a guide for preliminary funding searches. For more detail, we encourage you to contact the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) bureau linked for each program. (In some cases, the DOT district office or a Regional Planning Affiliation/Metropolitan Planning Organization is the recommended contact – maps and information for your area can be found in the resources box.)

As always, to help you find as many potential funding sources as possible, we have included some programs under more than one category.

Notes:

“Annual funding” or “available” amounts exclude any supplemental funding.
Much of the program information herein will change due to the recently enacted Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act. As implementation details are released, those changes will be reflected in the individual program links.
Applying for U.S. DOT Grants
Search Grants.gov

Resources

Grant or Program	Application deadline	Eligible Projects
State Transit Assistance Special Projects	First business day in October	Public Transit Agency and Statewide Public Transit Associations
Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) - Immediate Opportunity projects	N/A	Economic Development, Road, Street and Bridge
Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) - Local Development	February 1 and September 1	Economic Development, Road, Street and Bridge
Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) Program	Applications are reviewed annually	Economic Development, Rail
Federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP)	December	Aviation
State Aviation Program	May	Aviation
Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Program	July 1	Rail, Road, Street and Bridge
Highway-Railroad Crossing Surface Repair Fund	Projects are funded in the order the applications are received. However, a portion of the fund, not to exceed 50 percent annually, is set aside to meet critical or atypical needs. The criteria used to identify priorities can be found on the program’s webpage. There is currently a multi-year backlog of projects in line for funding, so timely applications are encouraged.	Rail, Road, Street and Bridge
Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program	A decision will be made 90 days after receipt of a complete application, as judged by the Federal Rail Administration.	Rail
Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP)	October 1, statewide competitive application	Rail, Road, Street and Bridge, Transit
Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program	RPAs/MPOs may have different deadlines for applications.	Road, Street and Bridge; Transit and Trails and Enhancement
City Bridge Program	Application deadline is October 1, however applications may be submitted at any time.	Road, Street and Bridge
County Highway Bridge Program	No application deadline	Road, Street and Bridge
Federal Lands Access Program	Varies based on solicitation of project applications from Eastern Federal Lands	Road, Street and Bridge, Trails and Enhancement
County-State Traffic Engineering Program (C-STEP)	Letters of request accepted all year	Traffic Safety and Engineering
Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP)	No application deadline	Traffic Safety and Engineering
Traffic Safety Improvement Program (TSIP)	August 15 is the deadline for all types of projects.	Traffic Safety and Engineering
Urban-State Traffic Engineering Program (U-STEP)	Letters of request are accepted all year	Traffic Safety and Engineering
Highway Safety Improvement Program – Local (HSIP-Local)	Application deadline is November 15	Traffic Safety and Engineering
Pedestrian Curb Ramp Construction	Letters of request accepted all year	Roads and Streets
DOT/DNR Fund	Letters of request are accepted all year and, if selected, are funded in the order in which they are received	Trails and Enhancement
Living Roadway Trust Fund	June 1	Trails and Enhancement
Recreational Trails Program (Federal)	October 1	Trails and Enhancement
Recreational Trails Program (State)	July 1 when funds have been allocated by the state legislature.	Trails and Enhancement
Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)	October 1 for Statewide TAP project applications. TMAs, MPOs, and RPAs determine their own deadlines for Local Projects TAP applications.	Trails and Enhancement
State Transit Assistance	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Public Transit Infrastructure Grant (PTIG) Program	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307)	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310)	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Section 5311)	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Intercity Bus Assistance (Section 5311(f))	First business day in October	Intercity Bus Companies, Public Transit Agency
Bus and Bus Facilities (Section 5339)	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program (CMAQ)	First business day in May	Public Transit Agency
Iowa LTAP Work Zone Sign Package Program	Coming soon	Road, Street and Bridge
Sign Replacement Program for Cities and Counties	Opens January 2nd each year with successful applications being funded in order of receipt until resources are exhausted.	City Reports, Funding and Resources

GRANTS AND PROGRAMS