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Biden-Harris Administration Opens Streamlined Application Process for More Than $5.5 Billion in Funding to Help Carry Out Major Infrastructure Projects Across the Country This may help your community, apply today!

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Department of Transportation is now taking applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects of regional or national significance. This funding supports three major discretionary grant programs that involve surface transportation projects designed to strengthen supply chains, spur economic development, and improve safety and daily life. Applications for funding are being solicited together under a single opportunity titled the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program.

“From fixing rural roads that would otherwise have trouble getting federal funding, to addressing some of the largest and most recognizable bridges and tunnels in the country, the funds in these three programs are supporting transformational infrastructure projects across the nation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Using a combined process to reduce paperwork, we are pleased to open this new round of funding for applications and look forward to hearing from project sponsors around the country seeking funds to help strengthen their communities through infrastructure.”

Available funding includes:

  • $1.8 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program: The Mega program supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Eligible projects could include highway, bridge, freight, port, passenger rail, and public transportation projects of national or regional significance. Per the law, 50 percent of funds are available for projects above $500 million in total cost, and 50 percent are available for projects between $100 million and $500 million in total cost.
  • $3.1 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program: The INFRA program awards competitive grants to multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. Eligible projects will improve safety, generate economic benefits, reduce congestion, enhance resiliency, and hold the greatest promise to eliminate supply chain bottlenecks and improve critical freight movements.
  • $675 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) Program: The Rural program supports projects that improve and expand our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas in order to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life. Eligible projects for Rural grants include highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that help improve freight, safety, and provide or increase access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities that support the economy of a rural area. 90% of rural funding must be awarded in $25 million or greater amounts.

Last year, the Department awarded nearly $1.2 billion from the Mega Program for nine projects across the country that will create good-paying jobs, grow the economy strengthen supply chains, improve mobility for residents, and make our transportation systems safer for all users. The Department also awarded $274 million for 12 projects through the Rural grant program and $1.5 billion for 26 projects through the INFRA program. A full list of awarded projects for each grant program is available here: 2022 Mega, 2022 Rural, 2022 INFRA.

The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm EDT on August 21, 2023, Applicants may find the NOFO, Frequently Asked Questions, and other helpful resources here.

SOURCED: NCDOT

MUTCD-compliant street name signs can improve traffic safety!

JMTE’s planning team has been working with the City of Sumter, SC to plan, design, and install new overhead street name signs at signalized intersections throughout the City. This project is part of the City’s overall wayfinding sign project and has included pedestrian, parking, gateway, and vehicular wayfinding signage. In Sumter, the older green signs were difficult to read, and many had lost their retroreflectivity. The new signs are much easier to read and include MUTCD* compliant lettering, spacing, and badges. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FDA), good sign maintenance will improve traffic safety, reduce the chances of a lawsuit against the community, and increase traffic capacity.

*The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, or MUTCD, defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel.

JMTE Employee Spotlight

Corinne Lembo, Executive Assistant

corinne.lembo@jmteagueengineering.com

828.456.8383

Corinne moved to western North Carolina from Florida in 2016, where she worked in the court system for 18 years in the courtroom as a Court Reporter and Circuit Court Trial Clerk. Prior to that she spent many years working in the Title Insurance field in Texas as an acreage Abstractor and in Florida as a closer for both commercial and residential properties. Her educational background includes obtaining a Court Reporting Certificate in the State of Florida from Segal Institute and a Texas Real Estate License from San Jacinto Junior College.

 

In her spare time, Corinne enjoys working with the Pigeon River Garden Club on community projects as well as playing in her own garden. You can also always find her at a thrift store or garage sale.

 

Corinne has volunteered her time with the Boys and Girls Club of America and Youth and Family Alternatives while in Florida along with participating in Girls Scouts of America both in Florida and North Carolina, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in North Carolina.

Educational background: includes obtaining a Court Reporting Certificate for the State of Florida from Segal Institute for Court Reporting and a Texas real estate license from San Jacinto Junior College.

Most influential book read: Common Sense, Intuition and God’s Guidance by C. Christopher Knippers, Ph.D.

Favorite Food: A good Cheeseburger

Favorite Quote: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ―Albert Einstein

The Mitchel at River Arts
The 237-apartment development, plus 16,800 square feet of retail space, is the newest iteration of a project that has been in the works for over a decade and JMTE participated. 

JMTE performed a traffic impact analysis for the River Arts District Lofts Mixed-Use development in Asheville project in 2013. The formerly known as the RAD Lofts, then the River Arts Apartments, the project is newly-dubbed “The Mitchell at River Arts,” an homage to Mount Mitchell, Woodfield Development’s Brian Schick said. In what seems like a mad rush to bring multifamily residential units to the industrial art district outside of downtown, The Mitchell will join another Woodfield Development project greenlit by Asheville City Council in December: 263 residential units overlooking the riverfront greenway at the Lyman Street traffic circle.

JMTE’s collaboration with the City of Asheville officials was critical for this project because of multiple on-going developments and City greenway improvement projects.