Short Span Steel Bridges 
Grant Program Assists Local Communities With Infrastructure Applications
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for up to $22 million in grants to provide technical assistance and a Call for Letters of Interest from communities seeking support through the Thriving Communities Program.
The Biden-Harris Administration launched the program in 2022 to prepare state, local, Tribal and territorial governments to better access historic levels of federal funding for projects in their communities.
Earlier this year, DOT announced that four Capacity Builder teams received $21.15 million to provide technical assistance to 64 communities.
Thriving Communities Program
The Thriving Communities Program (TCP) provides intensive technical assistance to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities to help them identify, develop, and deliver transportation and community revitalization opportunities.
Those communities receive in-kind support from Capacity Builders funded through the TCP to prepare grant application materials and undertake pre-development and project delivery activities including deploying innovative community engagement, workforce development, and clean technology strategies.
There is no cost for communities to receive support through the program.
Empowering Communities to Access Federal Dollars
“No one understands a community’s unique transportation needs better than the people who actually live there—yet many small communities don’t have the resources or capacity to secure the funding for infrastructure projects,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Thriving Communities Program is all about empowering communities to better access federal dollars so they can realize their own visions for better infrastructure and transportation.”
For the FY 2023 program, DOT has added a Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program set-aside to which states, Tribes, and regional planning organizations can apply. This set-aside will allow pilot program participants to provide TCP activities at a state or regional scale to communities within their jurisdictions. This year, DOT anticipates funding at least four pilots at approximately $1 million each.
DOT also anticipates funding at least three National TCP Capacity Builder Program teams, at approximately $5 million each, to collectively support approximately 50 communities that are selected and assigned by DOT into one of three “Communities of Practice” based on their unique technical assistance needs. The TCP will prioritize those communities working to advance projects to improve health outcomes; reduce housing and transportation costs; preserve or expand jobs and increase reliable mobility options for disadvantaged households to better access health care, food, education, and other essential destinations.
“The regional approach offered under TCP is an excellent complement to the other capacity building opportunities offered by the Build America Bureau,” said DOT’s Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian. “Building capacity at the local level and creating peer exchanges will help communities leverage every resource possible to advance their projects using innovative solutions.”
Letters of Interest Due November 15
The call for Letters of Interest (LOI) from communities seeking support from the program is open until November 15, while the NOFO for Capacity Builders is open until November 28. The NOFO will provide funding for organizations to provide technical assistance, planning and capacity building support to recipients under the Thriving Communities Program. Capacity Builders are encouraged to apply as a team and may include non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and other qualified technical assistance providers including academic and for-profit organizations.
More information on how to submit a LOI to participate in the Thriving Communities program can be found here.
Webinar: September 15, 12:30PM ET
An overview webinar that will introduce potential applicants to opportunities to apply to participate in the FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program will be held on September 15, 2023 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm ET.
The webinar will provide a general program overview, then provide details about the opportunities for National and Regional Capacity Builders as well as the opportunity for communities seeking technical assistance support. The webinar will also provide details about program requirements and how to apply.
Register here to attend the webinar.
Prefabricated Steel Bridges Provide a Safe and Cost Effective Solution for ABC
Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is bridge construction that uses design and construction methods to reduce the onsite construction time and mobility impacts that occur when building new bridges or replacing and rehabilitating existing bridges. Steel bridge have many accelerated construction benefits:
- Steel bridges can be fabricated off-site in a controlled equipment and ready to erect as soon as it reaches the bridge site.
- Steel is often lighter than other materials for the same span, resulting in smaller or fewer erection cranes.
- Prefabricated steel bridges accelerate construction and reduce on-site labor requirements, reduce traffic disruption, and overall project costs. They are also safe – reducing the exposure of workers and public to construction activities as well as environmental impacts.
Learn more about the benefits of prefabricated steel solutions.
Does steel provide a sustainable option for bridges?
Steel is the most recycled material on the planet. Some of the sustainable advantages of steel include:
- Steel from a disassembled bridge can be used again for another project.
- Steel bridges can last 100 years or more, with minimal maintenance over their long service lives.
- The high strength of steel permits longer spans, which minimizes disruption to underlying habitats.
- Steel is highly resistant to extreme natural disasters such as earthquakes.
- The American steel industry has achieved a 31 percent reduction in energy intensity and a 36 percent reduction in greenhouse gas intensity since 1990.
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