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The Oregon Transportation Commission this week approved a list of 15 projects that will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for funding via the sixth round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

Both urban and rural areas are represented in the projects, which will enhance movement of people and freight, said John Baker, an Oregon Department of Transportation economist who handles the application requests.

“There’s a real multitude of concerns and interests that get funded,” he said. “There is an interest in national and international trade enhancement as well as projects that provide connection and alternative modes of transportation.”

ODOT is responsible for ensuring the projects meet federal program requirements, Baker said. This round of the competitive program has $600 million available; Oregon has received $66.5 million since TIGER was created in 2009.

The TIGER program requires urban projects to have a significant local match, Baker said. No requirement exists for rural projects, however.

Six of the projects are prioritized higher on the list because they have statewide impact, according to the OTC. One is the $251 million Newberg-Dundee Bypass, which already has $232.6 million from state and local governments. ODOT wants $18.4 million to improve connections from the phase 1 bypass to existing roads, create a 0.7-mile connection between the bypass and the Chehalem Heritage Trail and provide safer connection to schools, Baker said.

Other projects given priority are: ODOT passenger and freight rail improvements in North Portland, $10 million; Port of Portland railroad crossing construction on Rivergate Boulevard, $14.2 million; Oregon State Parks and Recreation restoration of 2.4 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway into the Historic Highway State Trail, $9.5 million; Port of Coos Bay rehabilitation of 13 to 15 railway bridges and trestles in Lane, Douglas and Coos counties, $10 million; and city of Beaverton improvements on Canyon Road, $10 million.

The deadline for applying for grant funding in TIGER’s sixth round is Monday. Any governmental body is eligible to submit an application, but the 15 projects on the OTC’s list were given a letter of support, Baker said.