The U.S. Department of Transportation this week announced the recipients of $225 million in project funding under the Competitive Highway Bridge Program. The program is reserved for projects located in mostly rural states.

"U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced the recipients of $225 million in Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grant funding," according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.
The program will deliver funding to 20 projects in 18 states. According to the press release, 25 states were eligible to receive funding from the program. "By law, the funds were restricted to states with population densities of less than 100 people per square-mile based on Census data," reads the release.
The U.S. Department of Transportation supplemented the press release by tweeting remarks delivered by Secretary Chao to the Mississippi Coastal Region Transportation Summit in Biloxi, Mississippi, discussing the program's focus on funding for rural areas.
.@SecElaineChao, “Under this Administration’s guidance, @USDOT is also ensuring that rural areas, which were historically neglected, get proper consideration. I always say that rural America is not looking for a handout – it just wants fairness and equity.”
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) August 29, 2019
The program is also designed to prioritize "bundling of projects, as explained in the release: "The funds must be used for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads that leverage the efficiencies associated with 'bundling' at least two highway bridge projects into a single contract.
The U.S. DOT is pushing bundling for its savings in time and money, in the hopes of clearing the nation's transportation infrastructure project backlog.
The press release also lists the project with short descriptions of the projects awarded CHBP funding.
FULL STORY: U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $225 Million in Grants

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions