The U.S. Department of Transportation opened second round of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or INFRA discretionary grant program via a Notice of Funding Opportunity or NOFO issued Dec. 21.

[Above photo by Colorado DOT.]

The agency said in a statement that it expects to offer a pool of grant money totaling between $855 million and $902.5 million, subject to funding provided by fiscal year 2019 appropriations, which are currently in limbo due to the partial federal government shutdown that’s now lasted 14 days over border wall funding.

The agency noted that for 2018, INFRA grants worth nearly $1.5 billion were awarded to 26 projects – part of more than $63.9 billion in fiscal year 2018 monies made available in both multi-modal discretionary and formula transportation investments, along with $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2017 discretionary funds.

The agency noted in October that it views those dollars as “seed money” to encourage additional infrastructure investment by states, localities, and private sector partners.