The Federal Department Of Transportation is administrating a little known stimulus grant program known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery.  Otherwise known as a TIGER Grant. A sampling of TIGER grant applications by respective agencies in the state gives an indication of what priorities are being set.  For starters, MoDOT has a Tiger Grant application to rebuild thirty miles of Interstate 70 that will include truck only lanes at a cost of $200 million.  Essentially doubling the size of I-70.  This would be a small part of a MoDOT plan to rebuild the entire I-70 at an estimated cost of $4 billion if voters were ever talked into funding it via a sales tax, toll or gas tax increase.  A big part of the MoDOT’s push for truck only lanes is to accomondate the estimated 70% of truck traffic passing through the state.  It seems appropriate that MoDOT would rather find ways to maximize the number of lane miles it can rebuild rather then doubling the number of lanes.  Another TIGER Grant Application for St. Charles County is to finish the HWY 364 extension to Interstate 64/Hwy 40 at a cost of $100 million.  Stimulus funds is already being used to extend the highway under a contract awarded in September.  Obviously, the region and commuters will see a direct benefit in faster commute times.  Finally, A TIGER grant application for Saint Louis Development Corporation and Port of St. Louis is being sought to build a new 22nd street Interchange, Ramp and Street improvements at the foot of the new Mississippir Bridge and improvements to public port docks at a cost roughly of $125 million.  A big part of the TIGER grant would improve access to downtown as well as provide port improvements to handle containerized traffic off barges.  Realistically the state might expect one or maybe two TIGER grants awarded.  Hopefully, the Feds will see the benefits of a grant that will originate economic recovery locally versus MoDOT’s view of accomondating traffic passing through the state.