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FTA’s Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program (49 U.S.C. § 5314) and the Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312) fund technical assistance, training, and research resource programs through national nonprofit organizations across a number of areas to...
The Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps support FTA’s mission of improving America’s communities through public transportation by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment. (Learn more about transit-oriented development (TOD).) Comprehensive planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.
For TOD projects advancing to design and construction, the Build America Bureau offers financial assistance for TOD implementation through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing credit assistance programs. In partnership with the Bureau, FTA will conduct oversight of certain TOD projects to ensure compliance with federal requirements, while the Bureau will provide technical assistance for potential borrowers.
FTA launched a TOD Planning Program GIS dashboard that showcases information on awarded proposals and the respective planning studies. To navigate the user-friendly tool, simply click on a dot on the map and learn more about the project. For questions about this tool, contact April McLean-McCoy.
The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program (49 U.S.C. 5339(b)) makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants.
Funding is allocated to projects on a competitive basis, from proposals submitted to FTA in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Past project selections include:
Eligible applicants for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program include designated recipients that allocate funds to fixed-route bus operators, states (including territories and Washington D.C.) or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service, and Indian tribes.
Eligible subrecipients include all otherwise eligible applicants and also private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation.
Capital projects to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses, vans, and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Additionally, 0.5% of a request may be for workforce development training, and an additional 0.5% may be for training at the National Transit Institute. Applicants proposing any project related to zero-emission vehicles must also spend 5% of their award on workforce development and training as outlined in their Zero-Emission Transition Plan, unless the applicant certifies that their financial need is less.
49 U.S.C. Section 5339(b), IIJA § 30018
Funds remain available for obligation for four fiscal years. This includes the fiscal year in which the amount is made available or appropriated plus three additional years.
The federal share of eligible capital costs is 80 percent of the net capital project cost, unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage. The Federal share may exceed 80 percent for certain projects related to the ADA and the Clean Air Act. All low-no emission projects are attributable to compliance with the Clean Air Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Therefore, the Federal share of the cost of leasing or purchasing a low or no emission transit bus is not to exceed 85 percent of the total transit bus cost. The federal share in the cost of leasing or acquiring low- or no-emission bus-related equipment and facilities is 90 percent of the net project cost. Applicants must identify these specific activities in their application in order to receive this increased federal share.
Federal public transportation law (49 USC 5311(c)(1)(B)) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Section 300076, authorizes the formula amount of the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026. Five percent of Rural Formula (Section 5311) funding is available for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations program. 20 percent of the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations funds must be distributed on a competitive basis, while the remainder must be apportioned by formula. There is no local match required under the formula program.
Only federally recognized tribes are eligible recipients under the Tribal Transit Program. However, tribes which are not federally recognized remain eligible to apply to the state as a subrecipient for funding under the State's apportionment.
Provides funding to federally recognized Indian tribes to provide public transportation services on and around Indian reservations or tribal land in rural areas. Federally recognized tribes may use the funding for capital, operating, planning, and administrative expenses for public transit projects that meet the growing needs of rural tribal communities. Examples of eligible activities include: capital projects; operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation; and the acquisition of public transportation services, including service agreements with private providers of public transportation services.
In order to received formula funds a tribe must report to the National Transit Database (NTD) on an annual basis. FTA apportions Tribal Transit funds to Indian tribes by a statutory formula using the NTD and the latest available American Community Survey (Census Bureau) data.
The three tiers under the formula include:
Federal Transit Administration's Regional Tribal Liaisons
FTA’s Tribal Transit Program allows grantees to coordinate and assist in regularly providing meal delivery service for homebound individuals, if the delivery service does not conflict with providing public transportation service or reduce service to public transportation passengers. Learn more about the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).
The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable methodology and platform to access resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA. Participating FTA-funded technical assistance centers include:
On October 7, 2020, FTA announced 25 projects in 17 states will receive a share of approximately $8.5 million in funding through the Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) program.
OverviewRural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our national economic vitality. In keeping with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s focus on addressing the deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates on our rural transportation infrastructure, FTA’s Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program supports projects that will address the transportation challenges faced by areas of persistent poverty.
HOPE supports planning, engineering and technical studies or financial planning to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. It will also support coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services such as rides to opioid abuse recovery and treatment.
An area of persistent poverty is a county with 20% or more of the population living in poverty over the 30 years preceding the date of enactment of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, or December 20, 2019, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial census and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.
On March 3, 2020, FTA announced the availability of $8.5 million in HOPE Program funds to improve transit services or facilities in areas of persistent poverty through planning, engineering, technical studies, or financial plans. See the 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The HOPE Program supports projects that will improve transit services or facilities in areas of persistent poverty through planning, engineering, or development of technical, or financing plans for projects. Applicants are encouraged to work with non-profits or other entities of their choosing to develop an eligible project (see Eligible Projects below).
The HOPE Program is intended to help areas of persistent poverty:
The HOPE program seeks to fund planning for projects that will improve transit service and facilities in areas of persistent poverty in the U.S. FTA is particularly interested in proposals that may introduce innovative technologies or practices in support of FTA’s Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) initiative and, consistent with the ROUTES Initiative, projects that address the challenges faced by rural areas of persistent poverty.
Eligible activities for HOPE funds include planning, engineering, or development of technical, or financing plans for projects eligible under Chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. in areas of persistent poverty.
Applicants for the HOPE program must be eligible recipients or sub-recipients under section 5307, 5310, or 5311 of title 49, United States Code. An application must clearly identify the eligible lead applicant and all project partners on the team. Eligible project partners and sub-recipients may include, but are not limited to:
The minimum federal share for projects selected under the HOPE Program should be not less than 90 percent of the total project cost (i.e., the local amount should be no more than 10 percent of the total project cost, not 10 percent of the requested grant amount). The applicant must provide the local share of the net project cost in cash, or in-kind, and must document in its application the source of the local match.
Project applications were due on June 3, 2020. FY2020 project selections were announced on October 7, 2020.
The contents of this page do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This page is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding the existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
One of FTA’s three ferry programs, the Passenger Ferry Grant program provides competitive funding for projects that support passenger ferry systems in urbanized areas. These funds constitute a core investment in the enhancement and revitalization of public ferry systems in the nation’s urbanized areas. Funds are awarded based on factors such as the age and condition of existing ferry boats, terminals and related infrastructure; benefits to riders, such as increased reliability; project readiness; and connectivity to other modes of transportation.
Funding is made available to designated recipients and eligible direct recipients of Section 5307 funds, States and federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in an urbanized area.
Eligible activities are capital projects to purchase, replace, or rehabilitate passenger ferries, terminals, and related facilities and equipment. Funds may not be used for operating expenses, planning, or preventive maintenance.
The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital expenditures. However, the Federal share of the cost of leasing or purchasing a ferry that is compliant with the Clean Air Act (CAA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is not to exceed 85 percent of the total ferry cost. The federal share in the cost of leasing or acquiring compliant ferry-related equipment and facilities is 90 percent of the net project cost. Applicants must identify these specific activities in their application in order to receive this increased federal share.
49 U.S.C. 5307
Access and Mobility Partnership Grants seek to improve access to public transportation by building partnerships among health, transportation and other service providers. This program provides competitive funding to support innovative projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services. In 2018, there were two funding opportunities under the initiative: the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program and Human Services Coordination Research (HSCR) grants. In 2021, only the ICAM funding is available.
There is no minimum or maximum grant award amount; however, FTA intends to fund as many meritorious projects as possible. Due to funding limitations, projects selected for funding may receive less than the amount requested. In those cases, applicants must be able to demonstrate that the proposed projects are still viable and can be completed with the amount awarded.
Eligible applicants are organizations that are eligible to be recipients and subrecipients of the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program, (defined under 49 U.S.C. 5310):
Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient or its subrecipients.
The ICAM Pilot Program awards funds competitively to finance innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that improve the coordination of non-emergency medical transportation services.
Section 3006(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114-94, Dec. 4, 2015) authorizes FTA to award grants for innovative coordinated access and mobility projects for the transportation disadvantaged population that improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services.
Grantees will have up to 24 months from the time of the award to complete the project. Within the first year, projects must be able to demonstrate impacts related to the expected outcome as described in the application.
Funds under the ICAM Pilot Program may be used for capital expenditures only
The maximum federal share of project costs under the ICAM Pilot Program is 80 percent. The applicant provides a local share of at least 20 percent of the net project cost and must document the source of the local match in the grant application.
Eligible local-match sources include:
In addition, the applicant may use transportation development credits for local match.
Eligible applicants are designated or direct recipients of 5307, 5310, or 5311 FTA program funds. Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database and maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by FTA.
This funding opportunity seeks to improve mobility options through employing innovative coordination of transportation strategies and building partnerships to enhance mobility and access to vital community services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people of low income. As required by federal transit law, funds will be awarded competitively to finance innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services.
Some examples include - employing mobility management strategies, vehicle purchase, IT purchase, leasing equipment or a facility for use in public transportation etc.
Section 3006(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114-94, Dec. 4, 2015) authorizes FTA to award grants for innovative coordinated access and mobility projects for the transportation disadvantaged population that improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services.
Grant awardees will have up to 18 months from the time of the award to complete the project. Within the first year, projects must be able to demonstrate impacts related to the expected outcome as described in the application.
Funds under the Mobility for All Pilot Program may be used for capital projects that are derived from Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plans.
There is no minimum or maximum grant award amount; however, FTA intends to fund as many meritorious projects as possible. FTA will only consider proposals from eligible recipients for eligible activities. Due to funding limitations, projects selected for funding may receive less than the amount originally requested. In those cases, applicants must be able to demonstrate that the proposed projects are still viable and can be completed with the amount awarded.
The maximum federal share of project costs under is 80 percent. The applicant provides a local share of at least 20 percent of the total project cost and must document the source of the local match in the grant application.
Eligible local-match sources include the following:
Eligible applicants are organizations that are eligible to be recipients and subrecipients of the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program, (defined under 49 U.S.C. 5310):
Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient or its subrecipients.
Eligible applicants for awards include:
Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
The ICAM Pilot Program awards funds competitively to finance innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that improve the coordination of non-emergency medical transportation services.
HSCR grants supports innovative strategies in the coordination of human services transportation to provide more effective and efficient transportation services to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals. Research projects address gaps identified in locally developed Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plans. HSCR funds finance operating and capital project expenditures to develop and deploy projects that improve transportation services for targeted populations through methods that effectively and efficiently coordinate human services transportation.
Section 3006(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114-94, Dec. 4, 2015) authorized FTA to award grants for innovative coordinated access and mobility projects (FY 2015 – 2021) for the transportation disadvantaged population that improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services.
The HSCR program is funded through the Public Transportation Innovation Program, 49 U.S.C. 5312(b), and will build upon identified gaps in services or planning activities for the improvement of services, as outlined in local Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation plans.
For both ICAM and HSCR, grantees will have up to 18 months from the time of the award to complete the project. Within the first year, projects must be able to demonstrate impacts related to the expected outcome as described in the application.
Funds under the ICAM Pilot Program may be used for capital expenditures only. Funds under the HSCR Program may be used for operating or capital expenditures that are tied to Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plans.
The maximum federal share of project costs under the ICAM Pilot Program is 80 percent. The applicant provides a local share of at least 20 percent of the net project cost and must document the source of the local match in the grant application.
For projects funded under the HSCR program, the maximum Federal share of capital project costs is 80 percent and the maximum Federal share of operating project costs is 50 percent. The applicant must document the source(s) of the local match in the grant application.
Eligible local-match sources include:
In addition, the applicant may use transportation development credits for local match.
This program (49 U.S.C. 5310) provides formula funding to states and designated recipients to meet the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. Funds are apportioned based on each state’s share of the population for these two groups. Formula funds are apportioned to direct recipients; for rural and small urban areas, this is the state Department of Transportation, while in large urban areas, a designated recipient is chosen by the governor. Direct recipients have flexibility in how they select subrecipient projects for funding, but their decision process must be clearly noted in a state/program management plan. The selection process may be formula-based, competitive or discretionary, and subrecipients can include states or local government authorities, private non-profit organizations, and/or operators of public transportation.
The program aims to improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation service and expanding transportation mobility options. This program supports transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities in all areas – large urbanized (over 200,000), small urbanized (50,000-200,000), and rural (under 50,000). The funding can be used for “traditional” or “nontraditional” projects. “Traditional” projects are capital projects as defined in 49 U.S.C. 5302(3). “Nontraditional” projects are capital and/or operating projects that go beyond the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services or public transportation alternatives designed to assist older adults and people with disabilities.
To continue streamlining processes and providing high-quality customer service, FTA updated program guidance and award management requirements to incorporate provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities, and current FTA policies and procedures.
The Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Guidance, C 9070.1H provides instructions and guidance on program administration and the grant application process for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program.
States, local government authorities, and designated recipients are direct recipients; Eligible subrecipients include private nonprofit organizations, states or local government authorities, and operators of public transportation. Operators of public transportation are entities that provide regular continuing shared-ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low-income. Operators of public transportation are eligible as subrecipients for nontraditional Section 5310 projects.
Eligible subrecipients should apply to the direct recipient in their area for funding. In small urban or rural areas, the direct recipient is the state department of transportation. In large urban areas the direct recipient is the designated recipient.
A federally recognized Indian tribe may apply directly to FTA for Section 5310 funds that a state, local government authority, or designated recipient has awarded to the tribe. Tribes are eligible direct recipients under the Section 5311 program.
Traditional Section 5310 project examples include:
Nontraditional Section 5310 project examples include:
49 U.S.C. Section 5310
Section 5310 funds are available to the states and designated recipients during the fiscal year of apportionment plus two additional years (total of three years).
Section 5310 funds are apportioned among the states and designated recipients by a formula which is based on the number of older adults and people with disabilities in each state according to the latest available U.S. Census data.
The federal share of eligible capital costs may not exceed 80 percent, and 50 percent for operating assistance. The 10 percent that is eligible to fund program administrative costs including administration, planning, and technical assistance may be funded at 100-percent federal share.
Federal funds from other agencies may be used as match for the Section 5310 Program. For additional information on local match and federal fund braiding refer to the Section 5310 Circular (9070.1G) and the CCAM Federal Fund Braiding Guide.
FTA’s Section 5310 program allows grantees to coordinate and assist in regularly providing meal delivery service for homebound individuals if the delivery service does not conflict with providing public transportation service or reduce service to public transportation passengers. Learn more about the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).
In March 2022, FTA posted guidance clarifying coordination on human services transportation on a new transportation coordination webpage. Coordinated transportation involves multiple entities working together to deliver one or more components of a transportation service to increase capacity. The transportation coordination guidance aims to reduce overlap between the 130 CCAM programs across nine agencies that may fund human services transportation and incentivize collaboration by clarifying eligible reporting into the National Transit Database (NTD). This new guidance addresses the following topics as they relate to NTD reporting: definition of public transportation; paratransit; charter service; incidental use of transit assets; and trip brokering.
The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) is a national technical assistance center funded by FTA with guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL). NADTC promotes the availability and accessibility of transportation options that serve the needs of people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, and communities with a focus on the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities Section 5310 program and other transit investments. The NADTC supports the delivery of effective, efficient, high-quality, and coordinated specialized transportation services that maximize federal investments.
The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable methodology and platform to access resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA. Participating FTA-funded technical assistance centers include:
For additional technical assistance resources, visit Coordination-Related Technical Assistance Centers.
Grant Authorization:
BIL
The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program.
To continue streamlining processes and providing high-quality customer service, FTA updated program guidance and award management requirements to incorporate provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities, and current FTA policies and procedures.
The Rural Areas Formula Grant Program Guidance, C 9040.1H replaces, consolidates and updates guidance for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program (5339(a)); Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (5311); and the Tribal Transit Program (5311(c)).
Eligible recipients include states and federally recognized Indian Tribes. Subrecipients may include state or local government authorities, nonprofit organizations, and operators of public transportation or intercity bus service.
Eligible activities include planning, capital, operating, job access and reverse commute projects, and the acquisition of public transportation services.
The federal share is 80 percent for capital projects, 50 percent for operating assistance, and 80 percent for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) non-fixed route paratransit service. Section 5311 funds are available to the States during the fiscal year of apportionment plus two additional years (total of three years). Funds are apportioned to States based on a legislative formula that includes land area, population, revenue vehicle miles, and low-income individuals in rural areas.
Each state must spend no less than 15 percent of its annual apportionment for the development and support of intercity bus transportation, unless it can certify, after consultation with intercity bus service providers, that the intercity bus needs of the state are being adequately met.
FTA has published a Dear Colleague letter stating that intercity bus providers that use a nationwide allocation model to allocate costs are eligible to be reimbursed for net operating costs under Section 5311(f), including funding provided by supplemental COVID programs such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable methodology and platform to access resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA. Participating FTA-funded technical assistance centers include:
For additional technical assistance resources, visit Coordination-Related Technical Assistance Centers.
Training and Technical Assistance is available through the National Rural Transit Assistance Program
In March 2022, FTA posted guidance clarifying coordination on human services transportation on a new transportation coordination webpage. Coordinated transportation involves multiple entities working together to deliver one or more components of a transportation service to increase capacity. The transportation coordination guidance aims to reduce overlap between the 130 CCAM programs across nine agencies that may fund human services transportation and incentivize collaboration by clarifying eligible reporting into the National Transit Database (NTD). This new guidance addresses the following topics as they relate to NTD reporting: definition of public transportation; paratransit; charter service; incidental use of transit assets; and trip brokering.
49 U.S.C. 5311