Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Discretionary Grant Program

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program provides technical assistance and federal financial assistance for planning grants and capital construction grants to address infrastructure barriers, reconnect communities, and improve peoples' lives.

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program provide dedicated funding to projects that reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development.

Eligible applicants for RCP Program Planning Grants are: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization. Eligible applicants for RCP Program Capital Construction Grants must be the owner(s) of an eligible facility to carry out an eligible project for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. Owners of an eligible facility, for the purposes of submitting a grant application, may submit a joint application with: (1) a State; (2) a unit of local government; (3) a Federally recognized Tribal government; (4) a Metropolitan Planning Organization; and (5) a non-profit organization.

Eligible Planning Grant Activities and Costs: Planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing, retrofitting, or mitigating an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, including evaluations of: current traffic patterns of the facility and the surrounding street network. ​ the capacity of existing transportation networks to maintain mobility needs. an analysis of alternative roadway designs or other uses for the right-of-way. ​ the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the mobility of freight and people​. the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the safety of the traveling public. ​ the cost to restore community connectivity and to convert the facility to a different roadway design or use, compared to any expected maintenance or reconstruction costs.​ the anticipated economic impact and any economic development opportunities that would be created​ from the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or proposed alternative use. the environmental, public health, and community impacts of retaining or reconstructing the facility and the anticipated effect of the proposed alternative use or roadway design.​ Public engagement activities, including community visioning, to provide opportunities for public input into a plan to remove and convert an eligible facility. Other transportation planning activities required in advance of a project to remove, retrofit, or mitigate an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, such as: conceptual and preliminary engineering or design and planning studies that support the environmental review for a construction project. Planning studies may address: zoning reform, transit-oriented development, housing supply, project impact mitigation, green and open space, affordability-induced displacement, local history and culture, current barriers to access, jobs and workforce, or other necessary planning activities as put forth by the applicant that do not result in construction. Eligible Capital Construction Grants Projects and Costs: For Capital Construction Grants, eligible projects include those for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. This prerequisite requires the project to be included in the applicable Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and / or Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Tribal Transportation Improvement Program (TTIP) or equivalent as applicable by the time of the obligation of the award. Eligible construction grant activities include preconstruction and permitting activities including the completion of the NEPA process; the removal, retrofit, or mitigation of an eligible facility; and the replacement of an eligible facility with a new facility that restores community connectivity; and costs of community benefits and mitigation of impacts identified in the NEPA or other planning process for the capital construction project; and otherwise, is eligible for funding under title 23, United States Code.

Eligible Planning Grant Activities and Costs: Planning studies to evaluate the feasibility of removing, retrofitting, or mitigating an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, including evaluations of: current traffic patterns of the facility and the surrounding street network. ​ the capacity of existing transportation networks to maintain mobility needs. an analysis of alternative roadway designs or other uses for the right-of-way. ​ the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the mobility of freight and people​. the effect of the removal, retrofit, or mitigation on the safety of the traveling public. ​ the cost to restore community connectivity and to convert the facility to a different roadway design or use, compared to any expected maintenance or reconstruction costs.​ the anticipated economic impact and any economic development opportunities that would be created​ from the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or proposed alternative use. the environmental, public health, and community impacts of retaining or reconstructing the facility and the anticipated effect of the proposed alternative use or roadway design.​ Public engagement activities, including community visioning, to provide opportunities for public input into a plan to remove and convert an eligible facility. Other transportation planning activities required in advance of a project to remove, retrofit, or mitigate an existing eligible facility to reconnect communities, such as: conceptual and preliminary engineering or design and planning studies that support the environmental review for a construction project. Planning studies may address: zoning reform, transit-oriented development, housing supply, project impact mitigation, green and open space, affordability-induced displacement, local history and culture, current barriers to access, jobs and workforce, or other necessary planning activities as put forth by the applicant that do not result in construction. Eligible Capital Construction Grants Projects and Costs: For Capital Construction Grants, eligible projects include those for which all necessary feasibility studies and other planning activities have been completed. This prerequisite requires the project to be included in the applicable Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and / or Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Tribal Transportation Improvement Program (TTIP) or equivalent as applicable by the time of the obligation of the award. Eligible construction grant activities include preconstruction and permitting activities including the completion of the NEPA process; the removal, retrofit, or mitigation of an eligible facility; and the replacement of an eligible facility with a new facility that restores community connectivity; and costs of community benefits and mitigation of impacts identified in the NEPA or other planning process for the capital construction project; and otherwise, is eligible for funding under title 23, United States Code.

RCP program funding from the Highway Trust Fund is available for obligation for up to 4 years beyond the authorized year of availability. DOT encourages all recipients to obligated by that time and reserves the right to assign funding source at its discretion. Once obligated, funds are available indefinitely, however, the Department expects recipients to meet the schedule they propose in their application.

All applicants should respond to the merit criteria: Equity and Justice40; Access; Facility Suitability; Community Engagement, and Community-based Stewardship, Management, and Partnerships; Equitable Development; Climate Change Mitigation and/or Adaptation and Resilience; Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity; and Planning Integration. These are fully explained in Section E of the NOFO. Applicants for Capital Construction Grants will also be evaluated for Project Readiness and undergo a Benefit Cost Analysis.

RCP Program funding will be awarded to projects selected by the United States Department of Transportation through a competitive selection process. After an application is selected, the Department will work with the project sponsor to complete the necessary work prior to formally obligating the funding through an obligating agreement. The obligating agreement will establish the terms and conditions of the RCP program award.

The date range for approval/disapproval will vary by year.