New Starts, Small Starts and Core Capacity Improvements

What's New

• On October 1, 2026, FTA published a notice of its proposed Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program in the Federal Register for public review and comment. The proposed CIG Policy Guidance can be found at 2026 Proposed CIG Policy Guidance page, and public comments must be submitted to DOT docket number FTA-2026-0331 via www.regulations.gov by November 16, 2026. During the public comment period, FTA will post a recorded presentation regarding the changes proposed to the 2026 Proposed CIG Policy Guidance.
   
• The CIG dashboard reports data and the status of milestones for New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity projects seeking funding. Information is updated monthly based on progress reported by project sponsors to FTA's Office of Planning and Environment. 

Overview

This FTA discretionary grant program funds transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit. Federal transit law requires transit agencies seeking CIG funding to complete a series of steps over several years.

• For New Starts and Core Capacity projects, the law requires completion of two phases in advance of receipt of a construction grant agreement: Project Development and Engineering.
• For Small Starts projects, the law requires completion of one phase in advance of receipt of a construction grant agreement: Project Development.

The law also requires projects to be rated by FTA at various points in the process according to statutory criteria evaluating project justification and local financial commitment. For a complete discussion of the CIG process and the evaluation criteria, please see FTA’s CIG Policy Guidance.

Sponsors of CIG projects should also become familiar with the transportation planning and environmental review process requirements that apply to projects funded by FTA. Find information on the transportation planning process and the environmental review process.