Higgins discusses details of 8th round of TIGER grant competition

$500 million available for transportation projects nationwide

Congressman Brian Higgins announced applications are now being accepted for the eighth round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. For fiscal year 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $500 million toward transportation infrastructure-based TIGER grants nationwide.

Western New York projects have benefited from the TIGER program. The Niagara Falls International Railway Station, currently under construction, was awarded $16.5 million in 2010 through the TIGER II program. In 2011, the "Cars Sharing Main Street" project was awarded $15 million in the TIGER III round of awards. Last year, the project returning vehicular traffic to Main Street in Buffalo received an additional $18 million through the TIGER program. 

Higgins spoke about the importance of the TIGER program and federal investments in infrastructure in remarks on the House Floor:

"Mr. speaker:

"The Department of Transportation has announced an eighth round of grants will be awarded under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery - or TIGER - program.

"TIGER grants are awarded on a competitive basis to surface transportation capital projects. Weight is given to proposals that will have a significant local or national impact, generate economic development and increase access to affordable transportation.

"Western New York has received TIGER grants totaling more than $39 million to restore access to Main Street in Buffalo and construct a new historic train station in Niagara Falls. As a result, businesses are returning to the Theater District in Buffalo and tourism is growing in Niagara Falls.

"The TIGER program sends the message, during this period of tragic underinvestment in our infrastructure, that America can still tackle the big projects that historically have grown our economy.

"I urge support for TIGER."

Applications for the current round of TIGER are due April 29. For more information, visit www.transportation.gov/tiger.