Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments
Funding Opportunities
CTDOT - Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP)
LOTCIP provides State funds to municipal governments in lieu of Federal funds otherwise available through Federal transportation legislation and is provided for in Section 74 of Public ACT 13-239. Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs) solicit and select eligible projects including roadway and bridge reconstruction, pavement rehabilitation, sidewalks and multi-use trails. Roadway projects must be located on/along federally eligible roadways.
CTDOT - Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP)
TRIP provides state funds to municipal governments for infrastructure improvements in rural areas of Connecticut. Activities may include transportation capital projects such as construction, modernization, or major repair of infrastructure. Applications are submitted to the RPOs who submit a limited number of projects to CTDOT for consideration for funding.
CTDOT - Community Connectivity Grant Program (CCGP)
The CCGP seeks to improve accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians, thereby encouraging more people to use these healthy and environmentally sustainable modes of travel making CT a more attractive place to live and work. It was developed to provide funding for targeted infrastructure improvements that are commonly identified through Road Safety Audits (RSAs), or other transportation planning initiatives and provides funding directly to Municipalities to perform smaller scale infrastructure improvements.
CTDOT - Active Transportation Microgrant Program
The Active Transportation Micro-Grant Program is an initiative by the CTDOT designed to support local efforts in promoting safer, healthier, and more accessible transportation options for everyone. It provides grants of $5,000 or less to communities, schools, and organizations to fund projects that encourage walking and biking, improve safety, and foster awareness around active transportation. Examples include bike racks, safety education, community events, and safety material.
CTDOT – State Local Bridge Program (SLBP)
​In Connecticut, there are approximately 4,200 bridges and culverts on municipally maintained roads. Construction and maintenance of these structures is the responsibility of the cities and towns who own them. Recognizing the difficulty that municipalities have in meeting this responsibility, the General Assembly created the Local Bridge Program in 1984 as part of the State’s Infrastructure Renewal Program. This program provides for State grants to municipalities for the removal, replacement, reconstruction or rehabilitation of local bridges considered deficient.
FHWA - Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set Aside Program
The eligible use of TAP set-aside funds a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity. In CT bicycle and pedestrian projects have typically been targeted for these funds in the RPOs
FHWA - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program
CMAQ provide a flexible funding source to State and local governments for transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Funding is available to reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas). In CT congestion reduction and traffic flow improvements, transit improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities have typically been targeted for these funds in the RPOs.
FTA - Section 5310 Program
The Section 5310 is a federal grant program intended to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation service and expanding transportation mobility options and administered by CTDOT. It is open to private nonprofit organizations, states or local government authorities, and operators of public transportation. Typical projects include the purchase of accessible vehicles, mobility management programs, travel voucher programs, and operating support of volunteer driver programs or demand response services.
USDOT - Federal Discretionary Programs
Federal discretionary grants are programs found in the federal infrastructure bills which currently is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for FY 22-26. Examples include the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program, Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Discretionary Grant Program, and Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program.
CTOPM - Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP)
LoCIP distributes formula-based funds to municipalities for eligible local capital improvement projects such as road, bridge or public building construction activities. It encourages municipalities to develop a five-year Local Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP gives a general description, need for, estimated cost of, and proposed funding source for each individual capital improvement in the first year of the CIP.
CTDEEP - Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trail Program provides funding to any private nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments and tribal governments in support of trail projects including: planning, design and construction of new trails, maintenance and restoration of existing trails, access to trails by persons with disabilities, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, acquisition of land or easements for a trail, or for trail corridors and operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection as related to recreational trails.