Getting Started

FTA awards funds to transit systems in competitive grants and as formula grants. These funding sources each have specific requirements, funding cycles, and awards processes that should be carefully reviewed. Review the different grant programs currently available at FTA.

When funds are available for a program FTA releases a Notice of Funding Availability through the Federal Register. This notice provides all of the information needed to start the process to apply for a grant, including deadlines, required forms and basic requirements.

Tools and Sites

Federal Programs that Support Public Transportation

Competitive Grant Opportunities on Grants.gov

FTA posts all competitive grant and cooperative agreement opportunities on Grants.gov, the comprehensive government-wide website for announcing competitive grant opportunities. Grants.gov is the single, secure federal website unifying grant programs from 26 federal grant-making agencies. Please follow this link to search for competitive opportunities.   

TrAMS

FTA launched the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS) in February 2016. Learn more about TrAMS and how to access the system.

Basic Requirements

To receive FTA funds for public transportation purposes:

• FTA issues guidance, often in the form of circulars, to provide grantees with direction on program-specific issues and statutory requirements.
• Grant Management Requirements is guidance for post-award grant administration and project management activities you should be aware of when considering whether a grant is right for you.
• Grant recipients must sign the following in order to receive FTA funds:
  • A Sample Agreement for the appropriate funding year. 
  • The appropriate Certifications and Assurances for Federal Transit Administration Grants and Cooperative Agreements.
  • Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
    • Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs (49 CFR Part 24)
    • Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 as amended

Oversight

FTA conducts two major oversight reviews:

1. Triennial Reviews of grantee receiving Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grants, and
2. State Management Reviews of grantees receiving Section 5311 Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grants

In addition, when the grantee is either participating in a special program (e.g. Project Management Oversight reviews for grantees receiving Section 5309 New Starts funding) or is at-risk or out of compliance in a specific area (i.e. procurement systems or financial systems) other reviews may be conducted.

Read more about Triennial Reviews and sign up for workshops.