TIGER Federal Program
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). It is a discretionary grant program that appropriated $1.5 billion on a competitive basis to transportation-related capital improvements that “have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region.”
“TIGER grants will tackle the kind of major transportation projects that have been difficult to build under other funding programs,” according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This will help us meet the 21st century challenges of improving the environment, making our communities more livable and enhancing safety, all while creating jobs and growing the economy.”
A total of 1,400 applications for TIGER funds were submitted by all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia, requesting funding for almost $60 billion in projects. On Feb. 17, 2010, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood came to Kansas City, Mo., to announce the 51 innovative transportation projects that would receive TIGER funds — including $50 million for Greater Kansas City. The selected projects included improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities.
Awardees included large cities as well as rural and tribal communities from all parts of the country. Projects were required to be shovel-ready and demonstrate long term economic benefits. Applications were evaluated based on their contribution to the economic competitiveness of the nation, improving safety and the condition of the existing transportation system, increasing quality of life, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrating strong collaboration among a broad range of participants, including the private sector.
