The National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program supports large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. Mega grant program funding is being made available under the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) combined NOFO.

Applicants Eligible for Mega Grants:

1. A state or a group of states  
2. A metropolitan planning organization  
3. A unit of local government
4. A political subdivision of a state  
5. A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function  
6. A tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments  
7. A partnership between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described in (1) through (6)
8. A group of entities described in any of (1) through (7)
   
   

Eligible Projects Include:

• A highway or bridge project on the National Multimodal Freight Network, National Highway Freight Network, or National Highway System 
• A freight intermodal or freight rail project that provides public benefit 
• A railway highway grade separation or elimination project 
• An intercity passenger rail project 
• A public transportation project eligible for assistance under Chapter 53 of Title 49 and is a part of any of the project types described above 
  
  

Per law, 50% of funds are available for projects above $500M and 50% for projects between $100M and $500M in total cost.

Funding for MPDG is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which allocates up to $5B for the Mega program, which Congress may supplement through additional annual appropriations. Last year, the USDOT awarded nearly $1.2B to fund nine projects that will create good-paying jobs, grow the economy, strengthen supply chains, improve mobility for residents, and make our transportation systems safer. 

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