SMART SCALE Grant Program

SMART SCALE is a transportation funding prioritization process administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB). Established through state legislation to improve transparency and effectiveness in transportation investment decisions, the program evaluates and ranks proposed transportation projects to ensure that limited public funds are allocated to the most impactful needs across the state. The program emphasizes objective, data-driven decision-making and is designed to balance competing transportation priorities across both urban and rural regions. The primary purpose of SMART SCALE is to fund transportation projects that deliver measurable benefits in key areas including safety, congestion mitigation, accessibility, environmental quality, economic development, and land use coordination. Projects submitted to the program are evaluated based on how effectively they address identified transportation needs relative to their cost. The program supports a wide range of capital transportation improvements, including highway expansions, transit infrastructure, rail projects, operational improvements, and multimodal enhancements, provided they increase capacity or improve system performance rather than simply maintain existing assets. Funding under SMART SCALE is distributed primarily through two programs: the District Grant Program and the High Priority Projects Program. These programs support projects of regional and statewide significance, respectively. While specific award amounts vary by project and funding cycle, all applications must demonstrate full funding for project delivery, including any required matching or leveraged funds. Applicants are encouraged to contribute local or regional funding to strengthen their proposals, although matching is not universally required. Projects must also meet strict eligibility and readiness criteria, including alignment with identified transportation needs in Virginia’s long-range transportation plan. Eligible applicants include a broad range of public entities such as counties, cities, towns with infrastructure responsibilities, metropolitan planning organizations, planning district commissions, regional authorities, and transit agencies receiving state support. Applicants must submit a complete project proposal that includes a detailed description, conceptual design sketch, cost estimates, schedule, and supporting studies such as planning analyses or safety assessments. Applications must also include resolutions of support from governing bodies and demonstrate readiness through required documentation submitted by specified deadlines. The application process follows a structured biennial cycle. Applicants begin by submitting a pre-application with basic project information, followed by a full application that includes all required documentation and analysis. For the current cycle, supporting documents are due by mid-July 2026, and final applications must be submitted by early August 2026. Projects are then evaluated by a technical team using standardized methodologies, with results released publicly before funding decisions are made by the CTB. The evaluation process includes internal and external review to ensure consistency and transparency. Projects are scored based on quantifiable measures within the six factor areas, normalized relative to other submitted projects, and weighted according to regional priorities. Final funding decisions consider both the computed scores and additional policy considerations. Selected projects are incorporated into Virginia’s Six-Year Improvement Program, with implementation timelines and funding allocations determined through that process. SMART SCALE operates on a recurring biennial schedule, with application cycles opening in even-numbered years and final funding decisions made in the following odd-numbered years.

Engage VDOT/DRPT early; ensure project aligns with VTrans needs; provide complete and accurate cost estimates; submit all required documentation before deadlines; prioritize high-impact projects