WASHINGTON — The U.S. Transportation Dept. announced this week a $3 million grant for American Samoa, part of $1.8 billion in awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.

American Samoa’s $3 Million will go toward the Port Masterplan project, which will develop a plan for the Port of Pago Pago to provide guidance on port infrastructure capacity and limitations, potential port growth and expansion, permitting requirements, renewable energy implementation, project funding, economic development opportunities, and recommended technologies and innovations.

The plan will guide infrastructure improvements to reduce carbon pollution, include environmentally sustainable construction methods, incorporate energy efficient vehicle infrastructure, a hazard mitigation plan, and study the feasibility of implementing nature bases solutions in an area that is experiencing high rates of sea-level rise and is vulnerable to climate change exacerbating impacts of coastal hazards. It will also include guidance on increased affordable transportation choices and mobility through improvements to the current inter-island ferry system and expanding active transportation usage with new walking and biking facilities.

The awards fund 148 projects nationwide and bring the total amount of Biden-Harris Administration RAISE grants to more than $7.2 billion for more than 550 projects across the country.

“After decades of underinvestment, the condition of America’s infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse – and today we proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities of every size across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The competitive and popular RAISE program, which was authorized $1.5 billion a year on top of already appropriated funds a diverse slate of communities with projects of local and regional significance. Funding is split equally between urban and rural areas, and a large percentage of grants support regions defined as historically disadvantaged or areas of persistent poverty. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors, including state and local governments, counties, Tribal governments, transit agencies, and port authorities, to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to fund through other grant programs. RAISE discretionary grants invest in critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects that would otherwise not receive the funding needed if not for President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

As in years past, the demand for RAISE funding outpaced available funds, with the Department receiving almost $13 billion in requests for the $1.8 billion available this year.

The RAISE program is one of several competitive grant programs providing funding to communities across the country under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law