The Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program is a funding opportunity provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Build America Bureau. Its primary objective is to assist rural and tribal communities with planning and design activities for transportation infrastructure projects. This initiative is aimed at helping projects reach a state where they are eligible for federal funding or financing through other DOT programs. Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants with eligible projects that meet the merit criteria outlined in the notice.

The program offers two types of grants: Single Project and Multi-Community. Single Project grants support one project’s planning and design, while Multi-Community grants allow for the advancement of projects in at least three communities under one application. Funding from these grants can be used to hire staff or engage expert firms for financial, technical, or legal assistance related to early-stage project development. Eligible activities include revenue forecasting, feasibility studies, preliminary engineering, permitting, public engagement, and more.

Eligible applicants include rural local governments, states with projects in rural areas, federally recognized Indian tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Projects must be located in areas outside of urbanized zones with populations exceeding 150,000. There is a $10 million funding set-aside specifically for tribal applicants. Notably, there is no cost-sharing requirement, and up to $27 million is available in FY24 through a combination of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Applications must be submitted through the RTA Program’s online portal and include detailed information such as project description, location, cost breakdown, and performance metrics. Multi-Community applicants must also submit letters of support within 14 days of application submission. The application portal opens at 2:00 p.m. ET on March 18, 2025, and closes at 4:59 p.m. ET on April 17, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by June 5, 2025.

Applicants will be evaluated based on four main criteria: the potential of the proposed activities to advance the project, the applicant’s demonstrated experience and cost estimation, the project’s alignment with mobility access priorities, and the strength of partnerships in Multi-Community applications. The program also emphasizes alignment with DOT’s strategic goals in areas such as safety, equity, climate, and workforce development. Following the award, recipients must comply with federal administrative and reporting requirements, including quarterly progress and financial reports.