U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces $300,000 in TIGER Grant Funding for Madison Transportation Project
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced that the City of Madison has been awarded $300,000 in TIGER grant funds for the UrbanFootprint Transit-Oriented Development Station Area Planning Initiative.
“In order for us to grow the economy and create good paying jobs here at home, we must invest in 21st century Wisconsin infrastructure,” said Baldwin. “The UrbanFootprint Initiative will set the stage for the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit system in Madison, remove transportation barriers and increase economic mobility throughout the city, improving the quality of life for Madison residents. I’m pleased to see this important project move forward and proud to have helped secure this investment in Wisconsin’s economy.”
In April, Baldwin sent U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx a letter in support of Madison’s application for federal Transportation, Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for the project. The TIGER grant will allow the City of Madison to undertake scenario planning and prepare detailed transit-oriented neighborhood/station area corridor plans for three key areas to be served by the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. These three areas are located along three key corridors planned for the first phase of Madison’s BRT system in Madison’s west, south, and east sides. These areas have the potential to accommodate significant mixed employment and income growth to ensure access to jobs for Madison’s low- and moderate-income populations.
“This is the first TIGER grant the City of Madison is receiving in four years. These funds will give us the tools to ensure that the key factors of equity and sound regional planning are taken into account as we plan for development around our next generation Bus Rapid Transit system,” said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.
In August, Senator Baldwin sent Secretary Foxx an additional letter calling attention to the low number of TIGER grants awarded to Wisconsin since the program’s inception. Wisconsin ranks 50th in the nation in per capita grant award dollars with only $22.5 million in grants though five previous rounds of funding. Wisconsin also ranks 46th in number of TIGER grant projects awarded and 45th in TIGER grant dollars awarded.
Created by Congress in 2009, the TIGER grant program directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to invest in a variety of transportation modes and selects projects through a merit-based process. The grant program also ensures that projects across the country are funded and includes several provisions to balance the needs of urban and rural areas.
