Opportunity Information: Apply for FHWA WCPP 26 002
The Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), focused on making roadways safer while also improving wildlife movement and habitat connectivity. The central goal is to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC), which can cause human injuries and fatalities, property damage, and significant impacts to wildlife populations. By supporting projects that help animals cross roads more safely and maintain access to habitat, the program ties transportation safety outcomes directly to conservation and ecosystem connectivity benefits for both terrestrial and aquatic species.
For FY 2026, FHWA expects to award about $80 million through cost-reimbursable grants, meaning recipients typically front project costs and then request reimbursement for eligible expenses in accordance with grant requirements. USDOT may also use this same notice to award any remaining funds from prior fiscal years if those funds are still available, so the final amount awarded under this cycle depends on overall funding availability. Grants.gov listings may show minimum and maximum award amounts due to system requirements, but the program notice explains that WCPP itself does not set a minimum or maximum award size, giving FHWA flexibility to fund projects at different scales depending on merit, readiness, and need. The listing indicates an anticipated number of awards of roughly eight, which suggests a competitive process with relatively large or well-developed projects likely to rise to the top.
Eligible applicants cover a broad range of public-sector transportation and land management entities. Applicants may include State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, units of local government (such as counties, cities, towns, or townships), regional transportation authorities, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies. Partnerships are explicitly allowed, so a group made up of any combination of these eligible entities can apply together, which can be useful for corridor-scale projects that cross jurisdictions or land ownership boundaries.
The program can fund both construction and non-construction activities. Construction projects generally include the design and building of wildlife crossing infrastructure and associated roadway features, while non-construction projects can include planning, assessment, design, and similar pre-construction work. Even though both categories are eligible, DOT notes it may prioritize construction projects, which is an important signal for applicants deciding whether to propose a shovel-ready build versus earlier-stage planning. The underlying emphasis is on practical interventions that measurably reduce collisions and improve connectivity, so strong applications typically align engineering solutions with ecological effectiveness and documented safety needs.
A standard cost-share requirement applies: recipients must provide a non-Federal match of 20 percent unless a specific exception applies under the program rules. Applicants that fail to commit the required non-Federal share are considered ineligible, so the match must be clearly identified and compliant. For Federal Land Management Agencies and Tribes, the program allows additional flexibility because they may use certain other Federal funds as match where permitted, including match approaches allowed under 23 U.S.C. 120(k). This can be especially important in rural or remote areas where assembling purely non-Federal match can be difficult.
A major statutory set-aside applies to where funds must go. At least 60 percent of WCPP funds awarded each fiscal year must be directed to rural areas (referenced in 23 U.S.C. 171(g)). This requirement shapes competitiveness by ensuring that rural projects, including those on or near Tribal lands and Federal lands, receive a substantial share of total funding. Applicants proposing rural projects can treat this as a meaningful advantage, while non-rural applicants should be prepared for a more competitive lane for the remaining funds.
Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the opportunity number FHWA WCPP 26 002 and CFDA/Assistance Listing number 20.290, with DOT/FHWA as the awarding agency. The application deadline shown is November 16, 2026, and the notice was created on September 30, 2026. Overall, this program is designed for public entities that can show a credible safety problem related to wildlife-vehicle collisions and can propose an implementable solution that also reconnects habitat, with a clear financing plan that meets the 20 percent match requirement and, where applicable, supports the program’s strong rural investment mandate.Apply for FHWA WCPP 26 002
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.290.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $80,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) FAQs
What is the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP)?
The Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). It supports projects that make roadways safer while improving wildlife movement and habitat connectivity.
What problem is WCPP designed to address?
WCPP is aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC), which can result in human injuries and fatalities, property damage, and major impacts to wildlife populations. The program emphasizes solutions that help animals cross roads more safely and maintain access to habitat.
How does the program connect transportation safety and conservation?
The program ties transportation safety outcomes directly to conservation and ecosystem connectivity benefits. Funded projects are intended to both reduce collisions and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.
Who is the awarding agency for this opportunity?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
What is the opportunity number for FY 2026 WCPP?
The opportunity number is FHWA WCPP 26 002.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for WCPP?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 20.290.
How much funding does FHWA expect to award in FY 2026?
For FY 2026, FHWA expects to award about $80 million, subject to overall funding availability.
Can this notice also be used to award funds from earlier fiscal years?
Yes. USDOT may use the same notice to award any remaining funds from prior fiscal years if those funds are still available, which means the final amount awarded under this cycle depends on funding availability.
Is there a minimum or maximum award amount?
The program notice explains that WCPP itself does not set a minimum or maximum award size. Grants.gov listings may display minimum and maximum amounts due to system requirements, but FHWA has flexibility to fund projects at different scales depending on merit, readiness, and need.
How many awards are expected?
The listing indicates an anticipated number of awards of roughly eight.
Is WCPP a competitive grant program?
Yes. With an anticipated award count of roughly eight and the discretionary nature of the program, applicants should expect a competitive selection process.
What type of grant is this (reimbursement vs. upfront payment)?
WCPP awards are expected to be cost-reimbursable grants. Recipients typically pay project costs upfront and then request reimbursement for eligible expenses, in accordance with grant requirements.
Who is eligible to apply for WCPP funds?
Eligible applicants include State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), units of local government (counties, cities, towns, or townships), regional transportation authorities, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies.
Are partnerships and joint applications allowed?
Yes. Partnerships are explicitly allowed. Any combination of eligible entities may apply together, which can be helpful for corridor-scale projects spanning multiple jurisdictions or land ownership boundaries.
What kinds of projects can WCPP fund?
The program can fund both construction and non-construction activities. Construction generally includes designing and building wildlife crossing infrastructure and associated roadway features. Non-construction can include planning, assessment, design, and other pre-construction work.
Will FHWA prioritize construction projects or planning/design projects?
While both construction and non-construction activities are eligible, DOT notes it may prioritize construction projects. Applicants deciding between a shovel-ready build and earlier-stage work should factor that into proposal strategy.
What does the program emphasize when evaluating project value?
The program emphasizes practical interventions that measurably reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. Strong applications typically align an engineering solution with ecological effectiveness and documented roadway safety needs.
What is the required cost share or matching requirement?
A standard cost-share requirement applies: recipients must provide a non-Federal match of 20 percent unless a specific exception applies under program rules.
What happens if an applicant does not commit to the required 20 percent match?
Applicants that fail to commit the required non-Federal share are considered ineligible. The match must be clearly identified and compliant.
Do Tribes and Federal Land Management Agencies have any special flexibility for match?
Yes. For Federal Land Management Agencies and Tribes, the program allows additional flexibility, including the ability to use certain other Federal funds as match where permitted, including match approaches allowed under 23 U.S.C. 120(k).
Is there a rural funding requirement for WCPP awards?
Yes. At least 60 percent of WCPP funds awarded each fiscal year must be directed to rural areas (referenced in 23 U.S.C. 171(g)).
How does the rural set-aside affect competitiveness?
The 60 percent rural requirement shapes competitiveness by ensuring rural projects receive a substantial share of total funding. Rural applicants may see this as a meaningful advantage, while non-rural projects compete for the remaining share of funds.
When is the application deadline for this opportunity?
The application deadline shown is November 16, 2026.
When was this notice created?
The notice was created on September 30, 2026.
Who is this program best suited for?
This program is designed for public entities that can demonstrate a credible safety issue related to wildlife-vehicle collisions and propose an implementable solution that also reconnects habitat, along with a financing plan that satisfies the 20 percent match requirement and aligns with the program's rural investment mandate where applicable.
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