Nashville Mayor David Briley's administration has lost out in its pursuit of a $1.5 million federal transportation grant to explore new transit options on Dickerson Pike.

But Briley says future high-capacity transit along the the East Nashville corridor remains a priority despite the denial from President Donald Trump's administration. The plan is to re-apply next year.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday announced $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding, covering 91 road, rail, transit, and port projects across 49 states, as part of the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Grants program, or BUILD.

But Nashville's proposal for a "Great Streets Planning Study" on Dickerson Pike was not among the winning applications.

Transit in Nashville:After stinging referendum loss, Nashville leaders explore transit makeover on Dickerson Pike

The study would have utilized a complete streets approach on Dickerson Pike —historically one of Nashville's most impoverished and neglected stretches — by mapping out new sidewalks and protected bike lanes. It would have also explored future transit possibilities, including bus rapid transit, along the corridor as well as new technologies such as autonomous vehicles.

"While we are disappointed in not being awarded 2018 BUILD grant funding, a vision for high-capacity transit and equitable economic development along Dickerson Pike to serve as a model for the rest of the city remains a priority for the administration," Briley spokesman Thomas Mulgrew said.

"We are moving forward with preparing this corridor for transit improvements, and will re-apply for BUILD next year."

Briley has pointed to the Dickerson Pike work as one of his administration's upcoming transit initiatives. It comes months after Nashvillians voted overwhelmingly at the polls to defeat a proposal supported by Briley to raise four taxes to pay for a $5.4 billion transit system.

Transit defeat:Nashville voters overwhelmingly reject transit referendum

Mulgrew said as the mayor's office awaits the grant, the city is improving mobility in other ways such as making capital investments in infrastructure, partnering with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to improve access to Nashville and working with downtown companies to change how their employees commute.

He also pointed to $9.5 million in federal transportation funding awarded to Nashville earlier this year to upgrade the Metro Transit Authority's newly branded WeGo bus fleet.

New grant:Nashville lands $9M federal grant to help modernize bus system

He said the administration is "working to best position Nashville to leverage as many federal transportation resources as possible to keep our city moving in the future."

Briley, who faces re-election in August, told the Nashville Business Journal this year that he would not pursue another public referendum on funding transit over the next four years if he is reelected.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.