Keaton PetersThe U.S. Department of Transportation is offering funding for projects designed to support the use of materials in highway construction that produce less pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional materials. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced $800 million in funding through the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program that will provide opportunities for local and regional agencies to develop greener infrastructure.
Transportation infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges and highways, has traditionally been a significant source of carbon emissions, both in its construction and use. As the nation looks to meet emissions reduction goals as part of the fight to stave off climate change, policymakers are looking at ways alternate construction materials can play a part. This program aims to reduce the environmental impact of essential infrastructure projects and take a step toward more sustainable cities by incentivizing the use of low-carbon materials.
With $2 billion in funding provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the program focuses on construction materials such as concrete that uses alternative binding agents, recycled steel, or asphalt mixes that incorporate reclaimed materials. The first application round of $1.2 billion launched in March.
The program is open to cities, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments, and other local agencies involved in transportation. This funding can’t cover entire construction projects, but instead focuses on the extra costs associated with using low-carbon materials or provides incentives for their use.
The application process will require detailed plans to use low-carbon materials in construction projects. Potential applicants will need to show that these materials meet the “substantially lower embodied carbon” standard, essentially, carbon footprint labels for construction materials. The standard is typically verified through Environmental Product Declarations.
Eligible projects include work on federal highways, construction on tribal transportation facilities, and projects located on federal lands, such as roads or facilities that support transportation infrastructure. Beyond just materials, the funding can also be put toward training, education, and testing designed to measure and verify the carbon footprint of materials.
The full Notice of Funding Opportunity, which contains all the details needed to apply, is available on the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program website. The deadline to apply is Nov. 25, 2024. A webinar will be held in late September for potential applicants to gain more information.
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