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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

TIGGER Program

This page is about FTA's TIGGER program.  For information about DOT's TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants visit http://www.dot.gov/recovery/.

Program Overview

Managed by FTA's Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation in coordination with the Office of Program Management and FTA Regional Offices, the TIGGER Program works directly with public transportation agencies to implement new strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or reduce energy use within transit operations.  These strategies can be implemented through operational or technological enhancements or innovations.  To align the TIGGER Program with other strategic initiatives, FTA encourages project implementation that will enhance operational efficiencies, demonstrate innovative electric drive strategies, and create an environment prioritizing public transportation through intelligent transportation systems (ITS) or other related technology approaches to achieve efficiency and sustainability goals. 

Initiated within the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the TIGGER Program has been continued in fiscal year (FY) 2011 through The Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Pub. L. 112-10).  $49.9 million was appropriated for grants to public transit agencies for capital investments that will reduce the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of their public transportation systems, referred to as the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program. 

Additional information regarding TIGGER and the FY11 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) can be located through links on this website.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants and/or recipients of TIGGER Program funds include public transportation agencies, Federally recognized Tribes or State Departments of Transportation.

Eligible Activities

Two types of projects or eligible activities involving capital investments are eligible under the TIGGER Program: 

  1. Capital investments that assist in reducing the energy consumption of a transit agency; and
  2. Capital investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions of a transit agency.

For purposes of the TIGGER Program, energy consumption is defined as energy purchased directly by the public transportation agency.  Examples of energy include diesel fuel, compressed natural gas, and electricity purchased from power plants.  Emissions are defined as those emitted directly by the assets of the public transportation agency, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents.  Indirect emissions (such as from third-party power plants) or displaced emissions (such as from manufacturing or waste disposal) are not included.  The TIGGER Program focuses on the total energy savings, and/or emissions reductions of a project over its expected its useful life. 

Federal Register Publications

TIGGER News

Last updated: Monday, May 14, 2018