Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program

Open Posted

Opportunity number
FHWA-WCPP-26-002
Agency
Applications due
Award size
Up to $80,000,000

Opportunity facts

Assistance listings
Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Transportation
Eligible applicants
  • City/Township Governments
  • Other
  • County Governments
  • State Governments
  • Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
  • Special District Governments
Points of contact
Full announcement

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The Federal Highway Administration is soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program with a November 16, 2026 deadline, seeking to award approximately $80 million in cost-reimbursable grants to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. A mandatory 20 percent non-federal cost share applies to all recipients unless an exception applies; Federal Land Management Agencies and Tribes may use other federal funds for their match under 23 U.S.C. 120(k). Applicants who do not provide the required cost share will be classified as ineligible.

Eligible applicants are State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, units of local government, regional transportation authorities, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, Indian Tribes, Federal Land Management Agencies, and groups of any of the above entities. Both construction and non-construction projects are eligible, though the agency may prioritize awards to construction projects.

A minimum of 60 percent of fiscal year funds must be awarded to rural areas under 23 U.S.C. 171(g). The program has no specified minimum or maximum award sizes. DOT may award remaining and available funds from previous fiscal years under this opportunity, subject to fund availability.

The CFDA number is 20.290. Recent awards include $7.3 million to Maine DOT for culvert replacement to facilitate caribou crossing, $6.92 million to Florida for a wildlife underpass on US 27, $4.46 million to Pueblo of Santa Ana for wildlife overpasses and underpasses in New Mexico, and $1.05 million to Pennsylvania for a statewide wildlife crossings strategic plan.

Synopsis

The purpose of the WCPP is to provide funding to eligible entities for projects seeking to improve safety of the traveling public by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and, in doing so, improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. This NOFO will award approximately $80 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding via cost reimbursable grants. DOT may also award any remaining and available funds from previous fiscal years under this opportunity. The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice will be subject to the availability of funds. NOTE: The information under 'Award' on this page requires the specification of a minimum and maximum dollar value for anticipated awards due to Grants.gov system requirements. However, as stated in the NOFO, there are no minimum or maximum award sizes.

Eligibility

The purpose of the WCPP is to provide funding to eligible entities for projects seeking to improve safety of the traveling public by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and, in doing so, improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. Eligible applicants under the WCPP are: • State Department of Transportation (State DOT); • Metropolitan planning organization (MPO); • Units of local government ; • A regional transportation authority; • A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function; • Indian Tribes ; • A Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA); or • A group of any of the above entities. Projects eligible for funding include both construction and non-construction projects. However, DOT may prioritize awards to construction projects. WCPP requires a non-Federal cost share of 20 percent from all recipients unless an exception applies (see B.3, below). Applicants who do not provide the required non-Federal cost share will be classified as ineligible. FLMAs and Tribes can use other Federal funds for their match, such as those allowable under 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) 120(k). A minimum of 60 percent of funds each fiscal year must be awarded to rural areas (23 U.S.C. 171(g)).

Files

File Type Posted
PKG00294280.pdf PDF
9.29.26_-_Final_Draft_WCPP_Application_Template.docx DOCX document
Final_WCPP_NOFO_HAD-260512-001.pdf PDF

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