USDOT selects $1.73 billion for 127 U.S. infrastructure projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation selected 127 projects in 52 states, territories and the District of Columbia for a combined $1.73 billion in FY 2026 BUILD funding, the agency announced July 7, 2026.
The selections cover roads and bridges, public transit, ports, freight and passenger rail, truck parking and surface-transportation work connected to airports. They do not mean that every project is already under construction or that all of the federal money has been formally obligated.
Roads and bridges receive most of the funding
Roads and bridges account for about $1.3 billion, or roughly 77% of the announced total. One highlighted award provides $24 million to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for pavement work and 10 miles of high-tension cable guardrails along I-94.
Other categories received smaller allocations. Transit projects received approximately $169.9 million, ports received $136.8 million, freight and passenger rail received $87.7 million, truck-parking projects received $62 million, and aviation-related infrastructure received more than $11 million.
Examples listed by USDOT include an $8.5 million award to widen the Port of Seward freight dock in Alaska, $14.7 million to upgrade three Milwaukee County Transit System maintenance facilities, $25 million for additional truck parking at seven Kentucky rest areas, and $24.3 million for rail improvements at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas.
Applications far exceeded the available funding
USDOT said it received nearly 1,200 eligible applications requesting more than $14.5 billion. The selected projects therefore represent only a portion of the needs identified by applicants nationwide.
Construction Dive independently reported the $1.73 billion total, the 127-project count and the largest category allocations, including roads and bridges, transit and ports.
What BUILD grants can cover
BUILD is a competitive grant program for surface-transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The FY 2026 notice allows funding for eligible highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight rail, port infrastructure, surface-transportation components of airport projects, intermodal projects and certain Tribal transportation facilities. Planning, environmental analysis, design and other pre-construction work may also qualify.
The FY 2026 notice made at least $1.5 billion in funding available, with the possibility of additional funds under the notice. The announced $1.73 billion is the federal award total, not the combined cost of all selected projects.
For most urban projects, the federal share may not exceed 80%. Rural projects and projects in designated Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities may qualify for up to 100% federal funding. Recipients must still provide any required non-federal funding identified in their applications.
Selection is not the same as obligation
Project sponsors must complete environmental, financial, administrative and other federal requirements before signing grant agreements. BUILD grants operate primarily on a reimbursement basis: recipients generally incur eligible costs and then request reimbursement from DOT rather than receiving a lump-sum payment when selections are announced.
Under the FY 2026 program rules, an award is obligated when the recipient and DOT enter into a written grant agreement after applicable requirements have been satisfied. The general obligation deadline is September 30, 2030, and the expenditure deadline is September 30, 2035.
For residents, commuters, travelers and businesses near selected projects, the next useful signals will be announcements about executed grant agreements, environmental reviews, procurement, design and construction schedules. Traffic disruptions and project completion dates will vary according to each project’s readiness and local delivery plans.
Sources
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