Grant Programs

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law in December 2015. The act, which supports transit funding through fiscal year 2020, reauthorizes FTA programs and includes changes to improve mobility, streamline capital project construction and acquisition, and increase the safety of public transportation systems across the country. View FTA’s FAST Act highlights page.

The act’s five years of predictable formula funding enables transit agencies to better manage long-term assets and address the backlog of state of good repair needs. It also includes funding for new competitive grant programs for buses and bus facilities, innovative transportation coordination, workforce training, and public transportation research activities. Search the list of transit grant programs by keyword or type. Learn more by clicking on program titles.

Title Sort descending	Description	Grant Type
Accelerating Innovative Mobility	Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) will highlight FTA’s commitment to support and advance innovation in the transit industry.	Competitive
Access and Mobility Partnership Grants	This program provides competitive funding to support innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services.	Competitive
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021	The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), which President Biden signed on March 11, 2021, includes $30.5 billion in federal funding to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they continue to respond to the COVID-...	Competitive
Areas of Persistent Poverty Program	This program provides competitive funding for planning studies or financial plans to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress.	Competitive
Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program (formerly TIGER)	US DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program funds investments in transportation infrastructure, including transit.	Competitive
Capital Investment Grants - 5309	Provides funding through a multi-year competitive process for 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 to be eligible for funding.	Competitive
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities - Section 5310	Formula funding to states for the purpose of assisting private nonprofit groups in meeting transportation needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities.	Formula
Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program - Section 3005(b)	The EPD Pilot Program, authorized by Section 3005(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), is aimed at expediting delivery of new fixed guideway capital projects, small starts projects, or core capacity improvement projects. These projects must utilize public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a Federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost. FTA will notify applicants in writing within 120 days after the receipt of a complete application whether the application has been...	Competitive
Flexible Funding Programs - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program - 23 USC 149	CMAQ provides funding to areas in nonattainment or maintenance for ozone, carbon monoxide, and/or particulate matter. States that have no nonattainment or maintenance areas still receive a minimum apportionment of CMAQ funding for either air quality projects or other elements of flexible spending. Funds may be used for any transit capital expenditures otherwise eligible for FTA funding as long as they have an air quality benefit.	Formula
Flexible Funding Programs - National Highway Performance Program - 23 USC 119	Provides support for the condition and performance of the National Highway System (NHS), for the construction of new facilities on the NHS, and to ensure that investments of Federal funds in highway construction are directed to support progress toward the achievement of performance targets established in a State’s asset management plan for the NHS.	Formula
Flexible Funding Programs - Surface Transportation Block Grant Program - 23 USC 133	Provides funding that may be used by states and localities for a wide range of projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance of surface transportation, including highway, transit, intercity bus, bicycle and pedestrian projects.	Formula
Formula Grants for Rural Areas - 5311	Provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations.	Formula
Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Program - 5339(a)	Provides funding to states and transit agencies through a statutory formula to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. In addition to the formula allocation, this program includes two discretionary components: The Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program and the Low or No Emissions Bus Discretionary Program.	Formula
Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program	Provides funding through a competitive allocation process to states and transit agencies to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. The competitive allocation provides funding for major improvements to bus transit systems that would not be achievable through formula allocations.	Competitive
Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone Program	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.	Competitive
Human Resources & Training - 5314 (b)	Provides for grants or contracts for human resource and workforce development programs as they apply to public transportation activities.	Formula
Integrated Mobility Innovation	FTA's Integrated Mobility Innovation (IMI) Program funds projects that demonstrate innovative and effective practices, partnerships and technologies to enhance public transportation effectiveness, increase efficiency, expand quality, promote safety and improve the traveler experience.	Competitive
Low and No-Emission Component Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP)	On September 29, 2016, FTA announced the opportunity for eligible institutions of higher education to apply for funding to conduct testing, evaluation, and analysis of low or no emission (LoNo) components intended for use in LoNo transit buses used to provide public transportation. The deadline for applications is November 28, 2016.	Competitive
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program - 5339(c)	Provides funding through a competitive process to states and transit agencies to purchase or lease low or no emission transit buses and related equipment, or to lease, construct, or rehabilitate facilities to support low or no emission transit buses. The program provides funding to support the wider deployment of advanced propulsion technologies within the nation’s transit fleet.	Competitive
Metropolitan & Statewide Planning and NonMetropolitan Transportation Planning - 5303, 5304, 5305	Provides funding and procedural requirements for multimodal transportation planning in metropolitan areas and states. Planning needs to be cooperative, continuous, and comprehensive, resulting in long-range plans and short-range programs reflecting transportation investment priorities.	Formula