Provider
Federal Highway Administration
Application Deadline
October 9, 2026
Summary
The intent of the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is to fund projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. See the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the complete list of eligible applicants.
There is no minimum or maximum award amount for PROTECT Competitive Grant awards. While the Department reserves the right to make smaller or larger awards, based on the FY22-23 NOFO, the anticipated award range for Resilience Improvement, Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants, and At-Risk Costal Infrastructure Grants, the anticipated award range is $500,000 to $60,000,000. For Planning Grants, the anticipated award range is $100,000 to $10,000,000.
Common Eligible Projects
Eligible activities are different for each of the four types of grants under the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program: Planning, Resilience Improvement, Community Resilience and Evacuation Route, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure. For eligible activities within these project categories, please consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
A PROTECT Competitive Grant may be awarded only for the following facilities:
- A highway* project eligible for assistance under Title 23;
- A public transportation facility or service eligible for assistance under Chapter 53 of Title 49;
- A facility or service for intercity rail passenger transportation (as defined in Section 24102 of Title 49); or
- A port facility, including a facility that:
- Connects a port to other modes of transportation;
- Improves the efficiency of evacuations and disaster relief; or
- Aids transportation. (23 U.S.C. § 176(d)(5)(C)).
*The term “highway” includes a road, street, and parkway; a right-of-way, bridge, railroad-highway crossing, tunnel, drainage structure including public roads on dams, sign, guardrail, and protective structure, in connection with a highway; and a portion of any interstate or international bridge or tunnel and the approaches thereto, the cost of which is assumed by a State transportation department, including such facilities as may be required by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services in connection with the operation of an international bridge or tunnel. 23 U.S.C. § 101(a)(11).
More Information
https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/b5627a85-1b8b-4248-8b79-24722a396422
