WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- All 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington , D.C. , submitted applications to the Department of Transportation for grants to fund DOT projects , but -- in a sign of tough economic times coupled with a shortage of federal dollars -- not everyone is finding presents under the federal Christmas tree this year . U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that 46 transportation projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico will receive $ 511 million in the latest round of Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery ( TIGER ) grants . See the list of projects ( PDF ) The Transportation Department had received a total of 848 applications requesting $ 14.3 billion , exceeding the $ 511 million available under the TIGER program . The grants will fund a range of transportation work in urban and rural areas from light rail systems and ports to bridges , roadways , runways , pipelines , streetcars and bike-share projects . Among the biggest grants : $ 20 million for Chicago to complete 3.6 miles of track on the city 's transit authority 's Blue Line , serving millions of passengers , as well as expanding a bike-share program . The Missouri Department of Transportation also received $ 20 million for roadway improvements along the I-270 corridor in St. Louis . Three grants were directed to tribal governments to create jobs and provide transportation needs . A grant of $ 3.7 million was given to the Seminole Tribe of Florida to improve several miles of road on the Big Cypress Reservation . The existing road has two 10-foot lanes with worn , unpaved shoulders and substandard sidewalks , according to DOT . Officials say the improvements will enhance emergency hurricane evacuation routes and enhance access to commercial and tourist destinations . The smallest grant went to the Native Village of St. Michael , Alaska , which received a $ 1 million grant to resurface and re-contour roads to provide better access to schools and improve drainage issues that arise from seasonal flooding . Obama orders contracts be awarded by year 's end . LaHood , who was in Cincinnati , Ohio , Thursday to highlight a streetcar project , told reporters the allocation of funds is coming months ahead of schedule to allow communities to move forward with critical , job-creating infrastructure projects . `` Our economic challenges have been decades in the making and wo n't be solved overnight , '' said LaHood . The city of Cincinnati was awarded a nearly $ 11 million grant to design and construct the Streetcar Riverfront Loop that the transportation department says `` has the potential to revitalize '' the city 's urban core by providing a public transit alternative . Work has already begun on 33 planning projects while 58 capital projects are under way from the previous two rounds of grants . LaHood said an additional 13 projects are expected to break ground within the next six months . Of the $ 511 million in available funds , more than $ 150 million will go to projects in rural areas . Almost half of the funding will go to road and bridge projects . An additional $ 16 million will be used to pay for administrative costs to make sure the program is properly administered `` by the book , '' said LaHood . DOT says grants are awarded to transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact . the department gives priority to work expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth .
Projects range from roadways to light rail systems to bike-share programs . Applications came from all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington , D.C. The $ 511 million available will go for 46 projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico .