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Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program

Rolling Stock Station.

 

What's New

On November 30, 2020, FTA announced $1.37 million in competitive grant funds to six projects in six states for the Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program to support infrastructure innovation and safety in the transit industry. View the project selections.

Overview

FTA’s Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312), authorizes FTA to fund research, development, demonstrations, and deployment projects to improve public transportation. The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program is a competitive demonstration opportunity under FTA's research emphasis area of infrastructure. This priority area supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's Infrastructure strategic goal, as well as the strategic objective of life cycle and preventive maintenance for asset management planning and innovative maintenance strategies to keep transit assets in a state of good repair. This demonstration program will fund innovative approaches to eliminate or mitigate infrastructure deficiencies in public transportation using innovative technologies and designs.

Objectives

The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Program is intended to help transit agencies:

  • Explore advanced cutting-edge technologies that can provide real-time condition assessment of transit capital and facilities
  • Allow a more effective way for transit agencies to assess, detect, monitor and track deficiencies and defects related to infrastructure and rolling stock
  • Evaluate the cost-effectiveness and the practicality of proposed state-of-the art solutions

Eligible Projects

The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment program funds cooperative agreements to engage in demonstrations to assess and identify infrastructure deficiencies in public transportation rolling stock via innovative technologies to keep public transit assets in a state of good repair.

This program is a research demonstration program and not a capital procurement program. The project proposals must include a research/synthesis phase, a development phase, and a demonstration phase. All phases are critical to project selection.

To ensure proposed demonstration projects address the needs of transit agencies, FTA requires that applicants identify partnerships with at least one transit agency. FTA will assess the strength of those partnerships as part of its evaluation of applications.

Eligible Recipients

Lead applicants must be one of the listed entities prescribed below. Additionally, project partners and subrecipients under this program may include, but are not limited to:

  • Public transportation systems
  • Private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including technology system suppliers and bus manufacturers
  • Operators of transportation, such as employee shuttle services, airport connector services, or university transportation systems
  • State or local government entities
  • Other organizations, such as consultants, research consortia or not-for-profit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education

Statutory References

FTA’s Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312).

Allocation of Funding

Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Program projects are funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312). 

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 80 percent. Proposers may seek a lower federal contribution. 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. 

Accelerating Innovative Mobility

What's New

Overview

FTA’s Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) Initiative highlights FTA’s commitment to support and advance innovation in the transit industry. AIM will drive innovation by promoting forward-thinking approaches to improve transit financing, planning, system design and service. The AIM Initiative also supports innovative approaches to advance strategies that promote accessibility, including equitable and equivalent accessibility for all travelers.

The goals of AIM are to:

  • Identify, test, and prove out new approaches, technologies and service models
  • Promote the most promising mobility innovations that can be implemented more broadly through FTA’s capital programs
  • Establish a national network of transit stakeholders that are incorporating innovative approaches and business models to improve mobility

The primary objectives of AIM are to:

  • Foster innovative transit technologies, practices and solutions that advance the state of practice for public transportation in the U.S.
  • Leverage private sector investments in mobility for the benefit of transit
  • Ensure innovative technologies and practices permit interoperability across systems and modes
  • Share results of innovative mobility solutions with the transit industry and stakeholders

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include all activities leading to the development and testing of innovative mobility, such as planning and developing business models, obtaining equipment and service, acquiring or developing software and hardware interfaces to implement the project, operating or implementing the new service model, and evaluating project results.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients include providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state/local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes. Eligible applicants may identify one or more strategic project partner(s) with a substantial interest and involvement in the project.

Eligible project partners under the AIM Initiative include, but are not limited to:

  • Private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including shared-use mobility providers, technology system suppliers and integrators, automated vehicle technology providers, property managers and developers, and others
  • Private operators of transportation services, such as employee shuttle services, airport connector services, university transportation systems, or parking and tolling or airports authorities
  • Other operators of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, State/local government DOTs, and Federally recognized Indian tribes
  • Bus or vehicle manufacturers or suppliers
  • Banking or financial institutions
  • State or local government entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations, such as a Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Other organizations including research consortia or not-for-profit industry organizations, institutions of higher education, and other

Statutory Reference

Public Transportation Innovation (49 U.S.C. § 5312)

Allocation of Funding

The AIM projects are funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment program authority.

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 80 percent. Proposers may seek a lower federal contribution. 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. 

Selected Projects

FTA selected 25 projects in 24 states and one territory to receive a share of approximately $14 million in funding through the AIM initiative to support mobility and innovation in the transit industry. View the project selections.

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning – Section 20005(b)

Transit-Oriented Development Valley Metro

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. 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.

What's New

  • On October 31, 2024, FTA announced the award of approximately $10.5 million to 11 projects in 10 states in FY24 TOD planning grants to support community efforts to improve access to public transportation. The grants help organizations plan for transportation projects that connect communities and improve access to transit and affordable housing.
     
  • On May 23, 2024, FTA announced the availability of approximately $10.5 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year 2024 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Program. This year, applications with a substantial focus on affordable housing may receive 100% federal support. On June 5th, FTA hosted a webinar for this funding opportunity. During this event, we provided an overview of the program and described the eligibility requirements.
  • For TOD projects advancing to design and construction, the Build America Bureau (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.
     
  • On January 20, 2022, 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, please feel free to contact April McLean-McCoy.

Selected Projects

Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program

People boarding local metro buses

What's New

  • On July 9, FTA announced close to $1.5 billion dollars to transit agencies to buy more than 1,100 American-made buses in 47 states. Of 117 funded projects, nearly 80% of the buses will run on zero and low-emission technology, reducing air pollution and helping meet President Biden’s goal of zero emissions by the year 2050. 
  • Close to half of the 117 bus projects will improve bus facilities: modernizing and setting the stage for transit agencies to transition to new electric technologies.

Overview

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. 

Allocation of Funding

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 Recipients

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.  

Eligible Activities

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.

Statutory References

49 U.S.C. Section 5339(b), IIJA § 30018

Funding Availability

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.

Match

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.

Resources

Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone Program

What's New

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.

An aerial view of a neighborhood.Overview

Rural 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.

HOPE Program 2020 Notice of Funding

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.

Objectives

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:

  • Reduce fatality rates on rural transportation infrastructure
  • Increase access to jobs and healthcare through enhanced transit options and improved facilities

Eligible Activities

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.

Eligible Recipients

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:

  • Public transportation systems
  • Operators of transportation, such as employee shuttle services or airport connector services or university transportation systems
  • State or local government entities
  • Other organizations that may contribute to the success of the project team including consultants, research consortia or nonprofit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education

Statutory References

  • Urbanized Area Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5307)
  • Formula Grants for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities (49 U.S.C. § 5310)
  • Formula Grants for Rural Areas (49 U.S.C. § 5311)

Match

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.

Deadline

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.  

Passenger Ferry Grant Program - Section 5307

What's New

  • On July 8, 2022, FTA announced approximately $294.5 million available for Fiscal Year 2022 funding to improve and expand ferry service in communities across the country to help people connect to jobs and opportunity. View the notice of funding opportunity.

Overview

The Passenger Ferry Grant program (49 U.S.C. 5307(h)) 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

Eligible Recipients

Funding is made available to designated recipients, eligible direct recipients of Section 5307 funds, States and federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in an urbanized area.   

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include: support existing ferry service, establish new ferry service, and repair and modernize ferry boasts, terminals, and related facilities and equipment.  Funds may not be used for operating expenses, planning, or preventive maintenance.   

Statutory Reference

49 U.S.C. 5307 / FAST Act

Funding Availability

Once awards are announced, funds are available for the year the announcement is made plus five years. 

Allocation of Funding

Funding is allocated to projects on a competitive basis, from proposals submitted to FTA in response to Notices of Funding Opportunities. 

Match

The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital expenditures. The federal share may be 90 percent for the cost of vehicle-related equipment attributable to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act.

Selected Projects

Bus Safety and Accessibility Research Program

A bus.

What's New

  • On November 18, 2024, FTA announced the availability of $10 million in Fiscal Year 2025 competitive grant funding for organizations to research designs and create prototypes that will make buses safer for drivers and riders.
    • FTA hosted a webinar on December 3, 2024 at 2:30 PM ET to discuss the requirements of the funding opportunity and how to apply. The presentation and a recording of the webinar are available.
  • On September 10, 2024, FTA hosted a virtual public roundtable to discuss safety and elements of transit bus design that impact operator visibility. FTA facilitated a discussion among manufacturers, transit agencies, labor unions, and transit industry stakeholders on what efforts are needed to improve bus operator visibility through bus safety design improvements. Industry experts discussed vehicle design and potential safety enhancements.
  • The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) recently published TCRP Research Report 249: Bus Operator Barrier Design Guidelines and Considerations that provides information and guidance for North American public transportation agencies, standards committees, and government and non-government policymaking organizations on designing, procuring, and installing bus operator barriers to prioritize the health and safety of essential operators and the public they serve.

Overview

In keeping with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s focus on improving safety in the nation’s transportation systems, FTA’s Bus Safety and Accessibility Program supports the development of standard designs and prototypes that will make existing and new buses safer for operators, riders and vulnerable road users, as well as more accessible for passengers.

FTA’s top priority remains to enhance the safety of America’s public transportation systems. Projects solicited by this funding opportunity must address bus operator health and safety; transit vehicle safety, and accessibility; and provide a foundation for transformative bus systems and designs that enhance safety.

Objectives

Project objectives include focusing on developing driver safety systems and passenger safety systems, including:

  1. Researching standard bus designs, innovations, and technologies to make existing and new buses safer for their operator and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers. 
  2. Producing a prototype that is available as a retrofit on existing buses and for installation in new buses.

Eligible Projects

The strategic goal for this program is to make existing and new buses safer for their operators and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers. The program objectives include research on bus designs, innovations, and technologies, as well as production of a prototype that is available through a retrofit on existing buses and for installation in new buses. The program’s key focus areas are: 

  • Driver Safety Systems – Changes made to the transit vehicle and technology upgrades that protect the operator and enhance the safety of those outside of the vehicle including vulnerable road users.
  • Passenger Safety Systems – Changes made to the transit vehicle and technology upgrades that protect and increase accessibility of the passengers.

All applicants will also be expected to produce results that follow three major principles. These principles represent the values on which FTA will judge whether objectives have been met. 

  • Partnerships
    • Recipients will collaborate across multiple industry sectors including all or some of these priority groups:
      • Transit Vehicle Manufacturers
      • Transit Agencies
      • Transit Labor Unions
      • Disability Organizations
      • Transit riders
      • Domestic and International Research Groups
      • Component Manufacturers 
  • Widely Implementable
    • Proposals are encouraged to be innovative but must consider risks to implementation and interoperability to ensure nationwide relevancy and adoption. Proposals should be able to be adopted quickly, on a wide scale.
    • Deliverables should be applicable to current and new 35- and 40-ft or articulated bus models that have passed Altoona testing, comply with all other applicable Federal requirements, and are manufactured by companies eligible to compete for FTA-funded contracts.
  • Economic vitality
    • Recipients will support the U.S. industrial base by complying with Buy America. Recognizing Executive Order 14005, “Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers” (86 FR 7475), proposed projects must support economic vitality at the national and regional level, including advancing domestic industry and promoting domestic development of intellectual property.

Applicants must note how they will incorporate the key focus areas, meet program objectives, and follow program principles. Applications should include performance standards and measures for ensuring the success of each key focus area with a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound task plan. These measures should show minimum performance specifications and a quality assurance surveillance plan to ensure quality. Applicants must show a detailed understanding of the needs and opportunities of this program.

Eligible Recipients

Lead applicants must be one of the listed entities prescribed below. Additionally, project partners and subrecipients under this program may include, but are not limited to:

  • Departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the federal government, including federal laboratories;
  • State and local governmental entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations such as metropolitan planning organizations;
  • Providers of public transportation;
  • Private for-profit or not-for-profit organizations incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States; and
  • Institutions of higher education and technical and community colleges.

Statutory References

Public Transportation Innovation (49 U.S.C. § 5312)

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 80 percent. Proposers may seek a lower federal contribution. The applicant must provide the non-federal share of the net project cost in cash, or in-kind, and must document in its application the source of the match.

Allocation of Funding

Bus Operator Compartment Program projects are funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312).

Safety Research and Demonstration Program

CTA Track Work.

What's New

  • On June 22, 2023, FTA posted the LRV Bumper Safety Technology Deployment report that summarizes findings from design, build and test of a prototype LRV end enclosure, or bumper, as a retrofit to existing LRV operated in the US to reduce: 1) potential for injuries to automobile occupants, 2) damage to the LRV, and 3) costs to operators from crashes.
  • On October 8, 2020, FTA announced $7.5 million in competitive grant funds to 10 projects in nine states for the Safety Research and Demonstration Program to support safety and innovation in the transit industry. View the project selections.

Overview

The Safety Research and Demonstration (SRD) Program is part of a larger safety research effort at the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides technical and financial support for transit agencies to pursue innovative approaches to eliminate or mitigate safety hazards.

The goals of FTA’s safety research are to:

  • Improve public safety by reducing transit-related injuries, fatalities, safety events, and enhance system reliability by testing promising new technologies, designs and practices.
  • Assess ways to promote better public transit safety cultures through the adoption of voluntary safety standards and best-practices.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the SRD Program are to assist rail transit agencies to:

  • Explore advanced technologies, designs and/or practices to mitigate and prevent safety hazards on rail transit systems; and
  • Evaluate cost-effectiveness and practicability of potential solutions.

Eligible Activities

The SRD program seeks to fund cooperative agreements to engage in demonstrations that will improve the operational safety of rail transit services in the U.S. FTA is particularly interested in proposals to prevent and mitigate suicide and trespassing hazards on rail transit systems, and proposals to improve the operational safety of shared corridor fixed guideway systems, including highway-rail grade crossing safety.

The SRD Program is a research demonstration program and not a capital procurement program. The project proposals must include a research/synthesis phase, development phase and a demonstration phase.  All phases are critical to project selection.

Eligible Recipients

Applicants for the SRD program must be existing FTA grant recipients. 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:

  • Public transportation systems
  • Private for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including technology system suppliers and bus manufacturers
  • Operators of transportation, such as employee shuttle services or airport connector services or university transportation systems
  • State or local government entities
  • Other organizations that may contribute to the success of the project team including consultants, research consortia or nonprofit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education

Statutory References

Public Transportation Innovation (49 U.S.C. § 5312)

Allocation of Funding

Safety Research and Demonstration Program projects are funded annually under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312).

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 80 percent. Proposers may seek a lower federal contribution. 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. 

Resources

In calendar 2022-23, FTA published the following reports under the Safety Research and Demonstration Program:

Selected Projects

2019
2016
2015

Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants

What's New

Overview

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.

Allocation of Funding

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.

2021 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility

Eligible Recipients

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):

  • designated recipients
  • states and local governmental authorities
  • private nonprofit organizations
  • operators of public transportation

Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient or its subrecipients.

Eligible Activities

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.

Statutory References

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.

Funding Availability

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

Match

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:

  • cash from non-government sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services;
  • revenues derived from the sale of advertising and concessions;
  • revenues generated from value capture financing mechanisms;
  • funds from an undistributed cash surplus;
  • replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve;
  • new capital; or
  • in-kind contributions.

In addition, the applicant may use transportation development credits for local match.

2020 Mobility for All Grants

Eligible Applicants

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.

Eligible Activities

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.

Statutory References

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.

Funding Availability

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.

Award Administration

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.

Match

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:

  • cash from non-government sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services
  • revenues derived from the sale of advertising and concessions
  • revenues generated from value capture financing mechanisms
  • funds from an undistributed cash surplus
  • replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve
  • new capital
  • in-kind contributions
  • transportation development credits for local match

2018-2019 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility/ Human Services Coordinated Research Grants

Eligible Recipients

Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility

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):

  • designated recipients
  • states and local governmental authorities
  • private nonprofit organizations
  • operators of public transportation

Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient or its subrecipients.

Human Services Coordination Research (HSCR) grants

Eligible applicants for awards include:

  • state and local governmental entities
  • providers of public transportation
  • private or nonprofit organizations

Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.

Eligible Activities

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.

Statutory References

Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program

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.

Human Services Coordination Research Program

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.

Funding Availability

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.

Match

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:

  • cash from non-government sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services;
  • revenues derived from the sale of advertising and concessions;
  • revenues generated from value capture financing mechanisms;
  • funds from an undistributed cash surplus;
  • replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve;
  • new capital; or
  • in-kind contributions.

In addition, the applicant may use transportation development credits for local match.

Selected Projects

2019

Positive Train Control Grants Program

A MARC Commuter Train.

Authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Section 3028), the fiscal year 2017 Positive Train Control Grants Program offers funding to states, local governments and transit agencies that operate commuter rail systems to install positive train control systems required under 49 U.S.C. 20157 (Implementation of positive train control systems). In May 2017, DOT announced $197 million in grants for PTC implementation.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients are the recipients of federal grants under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, including state and local governments, and transit agencies operating commuter rail systems.

Eligible Activities

The capital costs of installing PTC systems and activities including but not limited to: back office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment, software; equipment installation; and spectrum acquisition.

Preventive maintenance and overhaul costs, new vehicle procurement, real estate property acquisition, building construction and acquisition, and operating expenses are not eligible costs.

Statutory References

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Section 3028

Funding Availability

The grant funds made available under the Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY 2017 Commuter Rail Positive Train Control Grant Funds must be obligated in a grant agreement no later than September 30, 2018.

Match

The federal share of eligible capital costs is 80 percent of the net capital project cost, unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage