National Highway Freight Program (NHFP)
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.278
- Agency
-
Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 115 $758,768,565 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 69-8083-0-7-401
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration awards Formula Grants under the National Highway Freight Program (CFDA 20.278) to support infrastructure and operational improvements on the National Highway Freight Network, with the most recent grant awarded on August 31, 2026.
The program funds pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation, bridge repair and replacement, interchange improvements, truck-climbing lanes, weigh-in-motion systems, truck inspection stations, pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements along freight corridors, and preliminary engineering and planning studies. Recent awards span concrete and asphalt pavement work, bridge superstructure and deck replacements, geometric modifications to improve truck operations, and safety enhancements on interstate and state routes designated as part of the National Highway Freight Network.
All 115 awards in the portfolio are Formula Grants, with the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration as the sole funding agency. Combined federal dollars obligated total $758.8 million across 115 awards since 2008. Recipients contributed an additional $171.1 million in non-federal match, bringing combined total obligated to $929.9 million. Award magnitude varies widely, from under $1,000 to over $232 million. Recent representative awards include a $232.6 million grant to widen I-20 in Texas with two new main lanes and overpass structures (May 2026); a $60.4 million grant for I-83 bridge replacement and widening in Pennsylvania (May 2025); and a $57.7 million grant for a new interchange on State Route 156 in California (July 2026).
Program activity has accelerated sharply. The past five years show an upward trend: 3 awards in 2022, 19 in 2023, 9 in 2024, 27 in 2025, and 37 in 2026 through August. This acceleration—especially the 37 awards already posted in 2026—suggests active ongoing funding disbursements. The source does not identify any open or recently posted grant opportunities. All details regarding eligible applicants, application procedures, and funding amounts are specified in notices of funding opportunity posted on Grants.gov.
Objective and description
- Objective
The NHFP supports several goals, including: investing in infrastructure and operational improvements that strengthen economic competitiveness, reduce congestion, reduce the cost of freight transportation, improve reliability, and increase productivit
- Description
This Assistance Listing is for the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP). A program that provides support to improve the efficient movement of freight on the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN).
Eligibility
- Uses of assistance
Varies; see notice of funding.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Varies; see notice of funding.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
See notice of funding.
- Award procedure
See notice of funding.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Varies; see notice of funding.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 115 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Department Of Transportation | $196,801,003 | 26% |
| 2 | Georgia Department Of Transportation | $78,290,020 | 10% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation | $60,360,284 | 8% |
| 4 | Department Of Transportation New York | $55,912,267 | 7% |
| 5 | Michigan Department Of Transportation | $46,719,611 | 6% |
| 6 | Department Of Transportation California | $45,396,112 | 6% |
| 7 | Tennessee Department Of Transportation | $38,090,196 | 5% |
| 8 | Montana Department Of Transportation | $36,706,725 | 5% |
| 9 | Wisconsin Department Of Transportation | $27,910,908 | 4% |
| 10 | Missouri Department Of Transportation | $25,927,240 | 3% |
10 of 34 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $758,707,397 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.278?
Assistance Listing 20.278 is National Highway Freight Program (NHFP), a federal grant program run by Federal Highway Administration (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for National Highway Freight Program (NHFP)?
Its CFDA number is 20.278: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.278 awarded?
115 grant awards under 20.278 have obligated $758,768,565 in federal funds to 34 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.278?
The recipients obligated the most under National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) are Texas Department Of Transportation ($196,801,003), Georgia Department Of Transportation ($78,290,020) and Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation ($60,360,284).
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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