Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program Funding
The LCTM program is a discretionary program that focuses on accelerating the use of materials and products that have lower levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions on eligible projects funded under Title 23.
From this Program, up to $1.2 billion is available to State DOTs for LCTM awards under the State Request for Applications (RFA). All awards of LCTM funds are available for obligation through September 30, 2026, and available for expenditure before September 30, 2031.
FHWA anticipates at least $22 million will be made available to each State DOT that addresses the eligible application factors and subfactors outlined in the RFA. Remaining funds available from the pool of $1.2 billion may be distributed equally among State DOTs that submit acceptable applications, not to exceed the amount requested in the State DOT's application. FHWA does not have a limit on maximum award size.
$800 million is available to non-State applicants for LCTM award under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the coming months. The program requirements will be the same as for State DOTs.
Application Details
State Departments of Transportation Applicants
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, Pub. L. 117-169, August 16, 2022) established the Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Program Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 179), which provides funding for the use of construction materials that have substantially lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is requesting applications from State DOT as part of the LCTM Program. This RFA will result in the distribution of up to $1.2 billion, subject to the availability of funds. Funds made available for the LCTM Program will be awarded for the use of substantially lower carbon materials and products on construction projects funded under 23 U.S.C. and necessary work to identify appropriateness for use of these materials on eligible projects.
States shall refer to the following documents for application information and program details:
Request for Applications for State Departments of Transportation (amended, March 25, 2024)- Frequently Asked Questions for the State RFA (coming soon)
Implementation Process Reports
Implementation Process Reports (IPRs) shall be developed by States post-award. More information can be found in the RFA and here:
- Implementation Process Reports Requirements (coming soon)
Non-State Applicants
More information on the Notice of Funding Opportunity for non-State applicants will be posted on Grants.gov in the coming months.
Eligible Recipients [23 U.S.C. 179(c)(2)]
- A State,
- A unit of local government,
- A political subdivision of a State,
- A territory of the United States,
- An entity described in 23 U.S.C. 207(m)(1)(E) (Federally recognized Tribes),
- A recipient of funds under 23 U.S.C. 203 (Federal Land Management Agencies),
- A Metropolitan Planning Organization (as defined in 23 U.S.C. 134(b)(2)), or
- A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function.
Eligible Projects
Eligible construction projects are limited to projects eligible under Title 23, including:
- Federal-aid highways
- Tribal transportation facilities
- Federal lands transportation facilities
- Federal lands access facilities.
Funding Limitations
- Amounts made available under this program shall not be subject to any restriction or limitation on the total amount of funds available for implementation or execution of programs authorized for Federal-aid highways. [§ 23 U.S.C. 179(b)(4)(B)]
- Funds cannot be used for a project for additional through travel lanes for single-occupant passenger vehicles. [§ 23 U.S.C. 179(b)(4)(C)]