Congestion Relief Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
The goals of the program are to reduce highway congestion, reduce economic and environmental costs associated with that congestion, including transportation emissions, and optimize existing highway capacity and usage of highway and transit systems through: (1) improving intermodal integration with highways, highway operations, and highway performance; (2) reducing or shifting highway users to off- peak travel times or to nonhighway travel modes during peak travel times; and (3) pricing of, or based on, as applicable, parking; use of roadways, including in designated geographic zones; or congestion.
This Assistance Listing 20.269 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.205, please refer to former ALN 20.205 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.269 will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- Local Government Consortium
- County Government
- Municipality/Township Government
A state, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), city, or municipality carrying out a project in an urbanized area with a population greater than 1,000,000. [§ 11404; 23 U.S.C 129(d)(1)(A)]
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Varies by project. Generally, FHWA publishes a notice of funding, soliciting applications for assistance, reviews these applications, and determines which applications are most qualified for award. Please see the individual notice of funding for details.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 120 to 180 days
Program details & compliance
Description
The Congestion Relief Program provides discretionary grants to eligible entities to advance innovative, integrated, and multimodal solutions to congestion relief in the most congested metropolitan areas of the United States with an urbanized area population greater than 1,000,000.
Mission Categories
Primary: Highways, Public Roads, and Bridges
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
See program notification of funding.
Required Documentation
See program notification of funding.