USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Grant Programs

Left Nav - Grant Programs
Grant Programs
911
Subscribe to RSS

Fiscal Year 2021 Tribal Transit Project Selections

Click on a column header to sort by that column.

State Project Sponsor Project Description Funding AK Asa'carsarmiut Tribe The Asa'carsarmiut Tribe will receive funding to continue operations and to purchase vehicles. This project...

Rural Transit

The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program (Section 5311) 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...

Areas of Persistent Poverty Program

Overview

The Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program was created to support projects that will address the transportation challenges faced by areas of persistent poverty. This program supports planning, engineering, and technical or financial studies to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. The program focuses on:

  • Improving transit access and mobility in areas where persistent poverty and lack of transportation options are significant barriers to economic opportunity.
  • Supporting coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services such as rides to opioid abuse recovery and treatment.
  • Increasing access to jobs and healthcare through enhanced transit options and improved facilities.
  • Reducing fatality rates on rural transportation infrastructure.

This program was published as Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) in its first year. Funding for the AoPP/HOPE Program was made available through:

  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–94)
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260)
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103)

Funding cycles were available during FY 2020 ($8.5 million), FY 2021 ($16.2 million), and FY 2023 ($20 million). Additional funding has not been allocated to this program, and no future funding cycles are anticipated at this time.

Eligible Activities

The AoPP/HOPE program funds planning for projects that will improve transit service and facilities in Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities in the U.S. FTA competitively awarded grants for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for projects eligible under Chapter 53 of Title 49, United States Code. Eligible activities include planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for improved transit services, new transit routes, transit facilities and improvements to existing facilities, innovative technologies, low or no emission buses, new bus facilities or intermodal centers that supports transit services, integrated fare collections systems, coordinated public transit human service transportation plans, or new service.

For projects eligible under the AoPP/HOPE Program applicants should reference FTA Circular 8100.1D - Program Guidance for Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program Grants and FTA Circular 9050.1A - Urbanized Areas Formula Grant Programs Guidance.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants include entities that are eligible recipients or subrecipients under 49 U.S.C. 5307, 49 U.S.C. 5310, or 49 U.S.C. 5311 that are in Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities. Entities that are subrecipients or indirect recipients under these programs must apply through their ordinary pass-through entities or designated recipients. State departments of transportation may apply on behalf of eligible applicants within their States.  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 include consultants, research consortia or nonprofit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education

Identifying Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities

As an additional resource applicants may use USDOT’s mapping tool to determine if a proposed project is in an Area of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Community. USDOT’s mapping tool allows applicants to map their project areas, determine eligibility, and identify their census tract numbers.

Statutory References

  • Metropolitan Transportation Planning (49 U.S.C. § 5303)
  • Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning (49 U.S.C. § 5304)
  • Planning Programs (49 U.S.C. § 5305)
  • Urbanized Area Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5307),
  • Enhanced Mobility Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5310)
  • Rural Areas Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5311)
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–94)
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260)
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103)

Match

The minimum federal share for the AoPP/HOPE program is not less than 90 percent of the total project cost.

Selected Projects

Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Announcements