The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) announced $1.5 billion in grants available through the FY 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program to invest in and fund transportation infrastructure projects that will have significant local or regional impacts.
Planning or Construction/Capital Grant Award Size:
- Rural capital projects have an award size minimum of $1M
- Urban capital projects have a minimum of $5M.
- Planning grants are available at no minimum.
Eligible Applicants include:
- States, the District of Columbia and Territories of the United States
- A unit of local government
- A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States
- A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority
- A federally recognized Tribe or a consortium of tribes
- A transit agency
- A multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible
Eligible projects:
- Highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23
- Public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 title 49
- Passenger and freight rail transportation projects
- Port infrastructure investments including inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry
- The surface transportation components of an airport project eligible for assistance under part B of subtitle VII
- Project investing in surface transportation facilities located on Tribal land, the title or maintenance responsibility of which is vested in the Federal government
- Projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or prevent stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species that will advance the goal of the program
- Intermodal projects whose components are otherwise an eligible project type
- Any other surface transportation infrastructure project that the Secretary considers to be necessary to advance the goals of the program
Cost Share/Local Match:
- Projects in Urban locations can receive up to 80% in Federal funding.
- Projects in Rural locations, Areas of Persistent Poverty, or within a Historically Disadvantaged Community can receive up to 100% in Federal funding.
Merit Criteria:
- Safety
- Environmental sustainability
- Quality of life
- Mobility and community connectivity
- Economic competitiveness and opportunity to include tourism opportunity
- State of good repair
- Partnership and collaboration
- Innovation
- Additional Considerations:
- Demonstrated project readiness
- Cost effectiveness
See U.S. DOT’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (last revised December 15, 2025) for additional information. U.S. DOT may amend the NOFO from time to time.
Deadline:
Applications are due February 24, 2026 by 5 pm (electronically through Grants.gov)
Assistance Available:
- Review CT DOT’s FY26 BUILD NOFO Fact Sheet.
- Contact CRCOG’s On-Call List of Consultants for Infrastructure Related Economic Analysis for assistance preparing a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA).
- Contact Elizabeth Sanderson, Grants Coordinator and Principal Program Manager at CRCOG, with questions or if you would like assistance preparing your grant application.