Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Oct. 20 announced $585 million in grants awarded to transportation projects around the nation under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) II program. The grants will fund 42 capital projects and 33 planning projects across the country, LaHood noted in a conference call with reporters.

“The 75 winning projects are indispensable—which is why they were selected from more than 1,000 applications,” he said. “Each TIGER II Grant rewards true excellence.”

Overall, approximately 29 percent of the TIGER II grants were awarded to road projects, 26 percent to public transportation, 20 percent to commuter and freight rail projects, 16 percent for ports, 4 percent for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and 5 percent for planning projects.

LaHood cited the ability of public transportation projects to reduce congestion—pointing to the project awarded the largest grant, the Atlanta streetcar project, at nearly $48 million—as well as a rail line in Maine and rehabilitation of the Memorial Bridge linking Maine and New Hampshire. “Just about every one of these projects has a lot more to do with relieving congestion than anything else,” LaHood said.

The second largest grant, $34 million, will be used to make improvements to the Tower 55 freight-rail junction in Fort Worth, TX.

LaHood also heralded the high-speed rail projects made possible by the first TIGER program, noting that 80 percent of Americans will be connected with high-speed rail in the next quarter century.

“We’re pleased that the TIGER program allows for creative, innovative opportunities that don’t fall under traditional formulas,” the secretary added. “We’re pleased and grateful that Congress understands this is an important program.”

The original TIGER program in 2009 received almost 1,500 applications, requesting a total of $60 billion. Ultimately, DOT was able to award $1.5 billion to 51 recipients.

A complete list of capital grant recipients is available here, and a complete of planning grant recipients is here.

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