U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced yesterday that the demand for TIGER grants has yet again exceeded the available funding. Applications for TIGER 2012 grants totaled $10.2 billion, far more than the $500 million set aside for the program. The Department of Transportation received 703 applications from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Washington, DC.
The previous 3 rounds of the TIGER program were also in high demand, and the program has proven to be overwhelmingly popular. To Secretary LaHood, this shows the need for capital investments in infrastructure across the country:
“President Obama has challenged us to invest in an America that is built to last, and it’s clear that communities across America can’t afford to wait any longer to get started,” said Secretary LaHood. “At a time when gas prices are high, it’s more important than ever that we invest in projects that will relieve congestion, improve the safety of our transportation systems, and provide Americans with affordable, efficient options for reaching their destinations.”
Read the full announcement at the Department of Transportation website.
For more on DOT and the other Partnership for Sustainable Communities agencies, visit SGA’s Partnership page.