The USDOT is looking for creative ways to sustain the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).

The organization announced $14.2M in grants for states under a new program to explore ways to sustain the HTF.

“Reliable funding is essential to ensuring we have a sound transportation system to support the economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “More investment in transportation in greatly needed, and we must find new solutions to prepare for the travel demands of the nation's growing population.”

The Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) grant program will fund projects to test the design, implementation and acceptance of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms.

Studies have shown that unless changes to the nation's infrastructure are made soon, gridlock nationwide is expected.