Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) is a supplementary discretionary grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The legislation provides $1.5 billion for a National Surface Transportation System through September 30, 2011, "to be awarded on a competitive basis for capital investments in surface transportation projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region."[1] Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the program on February 4, 2009. Lana T. Hurdle, deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs, and Joel Szabat, deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy, co-chaired the team responsible for selecting projects and watching over spending.[2]
Applications for grants had to be submitted by September 15, 2009, with grants to be announced by February 17, 2010. "State and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), other political subdivisions of State or local governments, and multi-State or multi-jurisdictional applicants" could receive funding for surface transportation projects "that have a significant impact on desirable long-term outcomes for the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region." Under Title 23 of the United States Code, these could include improvements to interstate highways, reworking of interchanges, bridge replacements or earthquake-related improvements, relocations of roads, and upgrading of the "rural collector road system". Other eligible projects include certain public transit projects, passenger and freight rail transportation projects, and port infrastructure. Selected projects might improve the economy of the entire country, transportation safety, and quality of life for communities. They might also reduce energy dependence or environmental problems. Job creation is also a priority, which would likely require the project to be shovel ready. Long-term benefit would also give a project a better chance of approval.
Most grants would be between $20 million and $100 million, but exceptions are possible. Priority is given to projects with other sources of funding. No more than 20 percent of eligible funds may go to one state.[1]