ConDig (11-Dec-18).  The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1.5 billion in grant funding to a broad swathe of transportation projects across 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Under the investment, the department said that 91 road, rail, transit and port infrastructure projects would receive grant funding.

Project applications were evaluated by a team of staff in the DOT and selected based on established criteria, including safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, environmental protection and state of good repair.

“Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) transportation grants are major investments in road, rail, transit, and port projects that serve as a down payment on this administration’s commitment to America’s infrastructure,” said US Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Some of the larger investments include a $25 million project to build a 4.8-mile, four-lane interstate in southwest Missouri and a $25 million deal to construct a 1.7-mile, two-lane roadway and bridge across the Verde River in Arizona.

A $20 million Metrorail Station platform reconstruction project in the District of Columbia was included. This will feature demolishing and rebuilding passenger platforms, correcting height variances to align with railcar floors and improving and enhancing transit facilities.