The U.S. transportation department just made $250 million in competitive grant funding available for metropolitan-area projects to cut traffic.

The grant cycle will extend for five years and reward “innovative, multimodal” projects in the most congested metro areas, or with populations of at least a million.

Fiscal years 2022 through 2024 will have $150 million in the first round of grant funding. States, metropolitan planning groups, and local governments can apply.

The department’s other intended aim for the grants is to cut pollution.

Projects that will be considered include integrated congestion-management systems, public transportation services, and incentives for carpooling, public transportation use or off-peak travel. Priority will be given to areas with persistent heavy congestion.

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