Registration is now available for two special Talking TIGER/Talking Freight Seminars on June 1 and 2! The topic of these seminars is the TIGER II Discretionary Grants Program Capital Grants (6/1), and Planning Grants (6/2).

The FY 2010 Appropriations Act appropriated funds for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER II Discretionary Grants).  Funds for the TIGER II Discretionary Grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region. TIGER II also allows USDOT to make Planning Grants  for activities related to the planning, preparation or design of eligible projects, including transportation corridors or regional transportation systems.  Additionally, the FY 2010 Appropriations Act authorized US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Challenge Planning Grants to foster reform and reduce barriers to achieve affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities.  USDOT and HUD are considering a joint solicitation for the two planning grant programs in order to better align transportation, housing, economic development, and land use planning and to improve linkages between the agencies’ programs.

TIGER II Discretionary Grants (Infrastructure Grants) and TIGER II TIFIA Payments

Tuesday, June 1 - 1:00-2:30pm ET 

Join Jacob Falk, from USDOT’s Office of the Secretary, along with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Maritime Administration who will discuss the program, selection criteria, evaluations, and application process for TIGER II Discretionary Grants (Infrastructure Grants) and TIGER II TIFIA Payments.

TIGER II Planning Grants

Wednesday, June 2 - 1:00-2:30pm ET

Join Beth Osborne, USDOT Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy along with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration and Maritime Administration as they discuss the program, selection criteria, evaluations, and application process for TIGER II Planning Grants.  If US DOT and HUD move forward with a joint solicitation, a representative from the US Department of Housing and Community Development, will join this presentation.

Due to capacity limitations, registration is required.  Please go to http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm and click on the seminar topic.  The seminars are held via web conference, which means that you view the PowerPoint presentations over the Internet while listening to the presenters over the computer or telephone. 

To help us make these seminars most useful to you, we encourage you to submit questions in advance.   Please send any pre-seminar questions you have to [log in to unmask] by 5pm ET Thursday, May 27th.  The pre-seminar questions will be addressed first.  You will also be able to ask questions during seminars.

If you have any questions about the seminars, please contact Jennifer Symoun, SAIC, 703-676-6849 or [log in to unmask]