The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking public input on transportation challenges facing rural and tribal communities as federal officials review how technical assistance, funding guidance and policy tools could better support infrastructure projects outside urban areas.
The Request for Information (RFI) asks stakeholders to identify current unmet infrastructure needs in rural areas, along with obstacles that make it harder for rural communities to compete for grants or further transportation projects. The information collected will support the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative, a federal program focused on safety, mobility, economic development and project delivery in rural and tribal areas.
In the Federal Register notice, USDOT emphasized the role rural transportation networks play in freight transportation, economic activity and daily travel nationwide. According to the department, rural roads account for 68% of lane miles in the U.S. and carry nearly half of all truck miles traveled. Despite their central role in freight movement and regional travel, rural roads account for 41% of roadway fatalities, with a fatality rate 1.54 times higher than on urban roads, according to the notice.
The notice also highlights infrastructure conditions as a continuing concern, noting that rural bridge closures and weight restrictions often force longer detours than similar closures in urban areas. Federal officials said those added distances can disrupt travel, freight movement and access to services in communities where alternate routes are limited.
Officials launched the ROUTES Initiative in 2019 and later codified it through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021. The program provides toolkits, webinars, grant guidance and technical support to help rural applicants navigate federal transportation funding opportunities.
Through this RFI, USDOT said it is seeking more insight into infrastructure conditions, usage, safety and technology needs. Officials are asking for specific feedback on funding access barriers, supply chain needs, safety priorities and project delivery challenges. The information gathered could influence how the department structures technical assistance and future rural grant criteria.
Responses are due on April 24. Comments submitted through regulations.gov will be publicly posted after review, and the department said late submissions may still be considered when practical.
Photo by Daniela Elena Tentis: from Pexels
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