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FHWA Targets Bridges, Congestion in Infrastructure Projects
Grant Applicants Now Have Simpler Paperwork to Spur Investments
Key Takeaways:
- FHWA has awarded more than $1.1 billion across bridge and safety programs and plans nearly $6 billion in new funding opportunities.
- DOT has reduced grant paperwork by simplifying Notices of Funding Opportunity under Secretary Sean Duffy.
- Business leaders warned Congress must act on expiring surface transportation legislation to ensure funding certainty.
WASHINGTON — Bridge projects are the centerpiece of the Federal Highway Administration’s focus on infrastructure investments, Administrator Sean McMaster told a gathering of business leaders and government officials.
McMaster delivered the opening remarks May 19 at United for Infrastructure’s Building a Stronger America event, at which leading stakeholders from government and private industry discussed the importance and needs of U.S. infrastructure investments.
Today, @SecDuffy announced @USDOT is moving quickly to make $3B in funding available through FHWA's Bridge Investment Program to repair and replace aging bridges across the nation. FHWA is cutting red tape to prioritize safety and reliability; the goal is clear: get Americans… pic.twitter.com/mfcKgBem8C — Federal Highway Admn (@USDOTFHWA) May 14, 2026
“The momentum is building. We’ve awarded more than $708 million in bridge investment program large awards, more than $407 million on the competitive highway bridge grants and nearly $22 million for our tribal safety grant program,” McMaster said. “We’re getting America building again with focus on large durable projects that enhance safety while connecting our country and our people.”
He noted FHWA on May 14 published a notice offering states and local governments the remaining $3 billion from the Bridge Investment Program’s Planning and Bridge Project Grants. This money will fund planning and new bridge projects costing less than $100 million. Winning projects will receive minimum grants of $2.5 million and maximum awards paying 80% of total eligible project costs.
“This spring and summer are going to be extremely busy. We have close to 20 new funding opportunities totaling nearly $6 billion that we are planning to issue in the coming weeks and months,” McMaster said.
DOT Leadership
He emphasized the leadership of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in removing red tape to make grant applications and award approvals faster and easier. DOT agencies have simplified Notice of Funding Opportunity language with clearer requirements. Many new NOFOs have templates for applicants.
“We know more grants often means more paperwork, but under Secretary Duffy, we’re changing that. These new NOFOs average 50% less content than the prior year for the same programs,” McMaster said. “We are championing private investment, ripping out the red tape, so we can build bigger and faster.”
The streamlining push extends beyond grants. Duffy on May 18 released the 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan, a multiyear roadmap to modernize the nearly 7-million-mile network that moves more than 54 million tons of goods valued at more than $68 billion across the country each day.
The plan sets six strategic goals over five years, targeting safety, efficiency, supply chain security, resiliency, technology adoption and workforce development.
2026NationalFreightStrategicPlan FINAL
Reducing Congestion
Another FHWA priority is to reduce congestion by leveraging public-private partnerships, McMaster said. He reminded the audience that Duffy recently sent a letter under a new “Freedom to Drive” initiative asking governors to identify their worst bottlenecks.
“Gridlock is more than an inconvenience. It’s a massive economic burden. It’s a tax on our families, our truckers and our entire economy to the tune of $269 billion annually. The Trump administration is committed to getting our economy moving again,” he added.
He said the U.S. has 10 of the world’s 25 most congested cities. Governors have been encouraged to identify their worst bottlenecks and outline plans to address this congestion. McMaster said the new DOT initiative “will use every tool in the federal toolbox fix this congestion.”
FedEx Stresses Investment
Raj Subramaniam, CEO of FedEx Corp., addressed the gathering in a video message. He emphasized that having world-class infrastructure “drives our economy and benefits us all. It enabled FedEx to generate nearly $75 billion in economic impacts in communities across the U.S. last year.”
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Subramaniam
He said he is focused on ensuring sustained federal investments in U.S. infrastructure while working with the broad coalition of stakeholders at the event.
“Surface transportation legislation is expiring in September and needs Congress to act. We need to ensure states, communities and the private sector have the funding certainty they need to continue planning and maintaining the world’s best infrastructure system,” Subramaniam said. “Working together, we can continue to help ensure the infrastructure foundation of America’s economy continues to be the best in the world and helps propel our nation forward.”
FedEx ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. The firm also ranks No. 3 on the TT Top 50 list of the largest global freight companies and No. 40 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies.
