Opportunity Information: Apply for D2008 OST FHWA FTA 001
Apply for D2008 OST FHWA FTA 001
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solicitation of Applications for Funding of Congestion Reduction Demonstration Initiatives" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.200 Highway Research and Development Program 20.205 Highway Planning and Construction 20.500 Federal TransitCapital Investment Grants 20.522 Alternatives Analysis.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 21, 2007 and posted on Nov 21, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2007. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments City or township governments.
- This Notice solicits proposals to enter into certain agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department). Through these agreements, the Department intends to support congestion pricing along with complementary transportation solutions proposed by jurisdictions designated as recipients of Federal assistance in accordance with this notice (each, a qualified jurisdiction). In addition to qualified jurisdictions eligible applicants include City or township governments County governments State governments
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Opportunity Summary:
The Solicitation of Applications for Funding of Congestion Reduction Demonstration Initiatives is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number D2008 OST FHWA FTA 001) aimed at helping selected jurisdictions put real congestion pricing programs into practice, paired with supporting transportation improvements. The central idea is to reduce traffic congestion by charging drivers directly for roadway use during the most crowded periods, while also investing in complementary solutions that give travelers better options and improve system performance. USDOT frames this as part of its broader Congestion Initiative and indicates that available funds could include amounts USDOT is able to obligate at its discretion in Fiscal Year 2008, including funds proposed in the Presidents FY2008 Budget for transportation.
The Department signals that it is not looking for stand alone tolling concepts or general traffic management plans. Instead, it expects to fund proposals that combine three elements into an integrated package: direct highway pricing during congested periods, innovative transit strategies, and new transportation technologies. In exchange for the jurisdiction committing to implement these strategies, USDOT indicates it may provide a mix of financial support, regulatory flexibility, and access to dedicated expertise and personnel to help move projects from concept to implementation. The emphasis is on demonstration style initiatives that can show measurable congestion reduction benefits and serve as models for other regions.
The opportunity references multiple CFDA programs that could be used to support selected projects, reflecting the multimodal nature of the initiative. The cited CFDA numbers are 20.200 (Highway Research and Development Program), 20.205 (Highway Planning and Construction), 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants), and 20.522 (Alternatives Analysis). The funding instruments listed are cooperative agreements and grants, and the notice specifies that cost sharing or matching is required. While the posting shows award floor and ceiling as 0, that typically means the specific dollar amounts are not stated in the summary record and are instead governed by what USDOT can make available and by the detailed Federal Register criteria and program rules tied to the referenced funding sources.
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, along with other entities as described in the full notice. A practical eligibility constraint is highlighted for highway discretionary funds: because discretionary highway grant funds are generally allocated to State Departments of Transportation, any non State DOT applicant seeking discretionary highway funds under the specified programs is expected to partner with the State DOT or submit the application through the State DOT for that portion of funding. In other words, metropolitan or local jurisdictions can apply, but if the proposal relies on certain highway funds, coordination with the state transportation agency is effectively part of the pathway to receive those dollars.
Application requirements are tied to the detailed instructions and evaluation criteria published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 218). Applicants are expected to make their submissions responsive to those specifications, and the application narrative plus appendices cannot exceed 40 pages total. The notice specifically mentions that appendices may include mapping that clarifies the geography and system impacts of the proposal, such as maps of priced roadways and affected facilities (bridges, parallel routes) and maps of transit elements directly involved, including bus rapid transit routes or other transit services and facilities. This signals that USDOT expects proposals to be implementation grounded, with clear corridors, operational concepts, and an understanding of network effects rather than vague regional aspirations.
For submission, USDOT prefers electronic delivery by email to Thomas.McNamara@dot.gov, though it also allows submission through Grants.gov. If either email or Grants.gov submission would create a hardship, the applicant can request an exception by emailing the same address, indicating USDOT is willing to accommodate edge cases while still steering applicants toward electronic submission. The opportunity was posted November 21, 2007, with an original and current closing date of December 31, 2007, and an archive date of January 30, 2008, which places it firmly as a time bound solicitation for FY2008 demonstration selections.
The primary point of contact is Thomas M. McNamara in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at USDOT, with contact details provided for both email and phone. The notice also indicates that if an applicant has difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, they should contact the same individual, reinforcing that the Federal Register notice is the controlling document for the full set of rules, selection criteria, and application instructions. Overall, this solicitation is best understood as a competitive, implementation oriented call for cities, counties, and states to propose congestion pricing deployments packaged with transit improvements and technology upgrades, with USDOT offering funding and supportive flexibilities to jurisdictions willing to commit to direct pricing as a core congestion management tool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Solicitation of Applications for Funding of Congestion Reduction Demonstration Initiatives, a discretionary funding opportunity intended to help selected jurisdictions implement real congestion pricing programs, paired with supporting transportation improvements.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is D2008 OST FHWA FTA 001.
What is USDOT trying to achieve with this solicitation?
The goal is to reduce traffic congestion by applying direct highway pricing during the most crowded periods and reinvesting in complementary improvements. USDOT describes this as part of its broader Congestion Initiative and emphasizes measurable congestion reduction outcomes and demonstration value for other regions.
What does "congestion pricing" mean in this context?
In this solicitation, congestion pricing means charging drivers directly for roadway use during congested periods (the most crowded times) as a core strategy to manage demand and reduce congestion.
Is USDOT interested in stand-alone tolling projects?
No. USDOT explicitly indicates it is not looking for stand-alone tolling concepts. The expectation is that proposals will be integrated packages that combine pricing with transit strategies and technology.
Is USDOT looking for general traffic management plans?
No. The solicitation is not aimed at broad, general traffic management plans. It prioritizes implementation-grounded demonstration initiatives centered on direct pricing during congested periods, supported by transit and technology elements.
What types of projects are USDOT expecting to fund?
USDOT expects to fund proposals that combine three elements into an integrated package: (1) direct highway pricing during congested periods, (2) innovative transit strategies, and (3) new transportation technologies. The initiative is framed as demonstration-style, with a focus on projects that can be moved from concept to implementation.
What kinds of support might selected jurisdictions receive from USDOT?
USDOT indicates it may provide a mix of financial support, regulatory flexibility, and access to dedicated expertise and personnel, in exchange for the jurisdiction committing to implement the bundled strategies (pricing, transit, and technology).
Which funding programs (CFDA numbers) are referenced?
The solicitation references multiple CFDA programs that may be used to support selected projects: 20.200 (Highway Research and Development Program), 20.205 (Highway Planning and Construction), 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants), and 20.522 (Alternatives Analysis).
What funding instruments are expected (grant, contract, etc.)?
The listed funding instruments are cooperative agreements and grants.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice specifies that cost sharing or matching is required.
How much funding is available per award?
The posting shows an award floor and ceiling of 0, which typically indicates specific dollar amounts are not stated in the summary record. Amounts are expected to depend on what USDOT can make available and on the detailed Federal Register criteria and program rules tied to the referenced funding sources.
Where do the official application instructions and evaluation criteria appear?
Application requirements and evaluation criteria are tied to the detailed instructions published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 218). The notice indicates this Federal Register publication is the controlling document for the full rules and criteria.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, along with other entities as described in the full notice.
Can a city or county apply directly for highway discretionary funds?
Local jurisdictions can apply, but the notice highlights a practical constraint: discretionary highway grant funds are generally allocated to State Departments of Transportation. If a non-State DOT applicant is seeking discretionary highway funds under the specified programs, it is expected to partner with the State DOT or submit the application through the State DOT for that portion of the funding.
Does the application have a page limit?
Yes. The application narrative plus appendices cannot exceed 40 pages total.
What kinds of appendices are specifically mentioned as helpful?
The notice specifically mentions mapping as an example of useful appendix material to clarify geography and system impacts. Examples include maps of priced roadways and affected facilities (such as bridges and parallel routes), and maps of transit elements directly involved (such as bus rapid transit routes or other transit services and facilities).
What does USDOT seem to expect in terms of project specificity?
Based on the emphasis on maps and implementation detail, USDOT appears to expect clear corridors, operational concepts, and an understanding of network effects (for example, impacts on parallel routes and connected facilities), rather than vague regional concepts.
How can applications be submitted?
USDOT prefers electronic submission by email to Thomas.McNamara@dot.gov. Submission through Grants.gov is also allowed.
What if email or Grants.gov submission creates a hardship?
If submission by email or Grants.gov would create a hardship, the applicant can request an exception by emailing Thomas.McNamara@dot.gov.
What are the key dates for this solicitation?
The opportunity was posted on November 21, 2007. The closing date (original and current) is December 31, 2007. The archive date is January 30, 2008.
Who is the primary point of contact?
The primary point of contact is Thomas M. McNamara, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at USDOT. The notice provides both email and phone contact information.
What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The notice indicates applicants should contact Thomas M. McNamara if they have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.
Is this a competitive opportunity or a formula program?
It is presented as a discretionary, competitive solicitation focused on selecting demonstration initiatives that can show measurable congestion reduction benefits and serve as models for other regions.
Is this solicitation focused on planning studies or implementation?
It is described as implementation-oriented. USDOT emphasizes moving projects from concept to implementation and expects an integrated package that includes direct pricing plus transit and technology elements.
How does USDOT describe the overall concept of the initiative?
USDOT frames the initiative around charging directly for roadway use during the most crowded periods, while investing in complementary solutions that improve traveler options and overall system performance. The stated intent is to achieve measurable congestion reduction and produce demonstration examples other regions can learn from.
What fiscal year does USDOT tie the funding availability to?
USDOT indicates available funds could include amounts it is able to obligate at its discretion in Fiscal Year 2008, including funds proposed in the President's FY2008 Budget for transportation.
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