Applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) for TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) 2012 grants totaled $10.2 billion, far exceeding the $500 million set aside for the program. The U.S. DOT received 703 applications from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

In November, the President signed the FY 2012 Appropriations Act, which provided $500 million for U.S. DOT infrastructure investments. Like the first three rounds, TIGER 2012 grants are for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and will be awarded on a competitive basis. This is the fourth round of TIGER funding.

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 U.S. DOT received more than 3,348 applications requesting more than $95 billion for transportation projects across the country.