U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the overwhelming demand for TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants has once again far surpassed the available funding.
Applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation for TIGER 2012 grants totaled $10.2 billion, far exceeding the $500 million set aside for the program. The Department received 703 applications from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
The previous three rounds of the TIGER program provided $2.6 billion to 172 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Demand for the program has been overwhelming, and during the previous three rounds, the Department of Transportation received more than 3,348 applications requesting more than $95 billion for transportation projects across the country.