Transit Worker and Rider Safety Best Practices Research Project

What’s New

• On December 15, 2022, FTA announced a notice of funding opportunity for up to $500,000 for a cooperative agreement for a research project to help transit agencies address transit worker and rider assaults. The research project is intended to identify public safety risks for transit workers and riders, determine the most effective mitigation strategies to minimize those risks, and promote the implementation of those strategies.
  • Proposals must be submitted electronically through GRANTS.GOV by February 13, 2023.
     
• FTA hosted a webinar on January 18, 2023 on this NOFO.
  • View the presentation 
     

Overview

The Transit Worker and Rider Safety Best Practices Research Project is part of a larger safety research effort at the USDOT to provide technical and financial support to transit agencies and the transit industry to pursue innovative approaches to reduce safety hazards.

FTA seeks to fund a cooperative agreement to:

• produce a best practices report (phase 1) 
• conduct pilot demonstration project (phase 2)

This NOFO will provide funding for phase I. Eligibility for phase II is subject to the availability of future funding.

Statutory Reference(s)

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

Due Date

Proposals must be submitted electronically by February 13, 2023. Applicants must first register at Grants.gov prior to submitting the application.

Standards Development Program

What's New

• On November 22, 2022, FTA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to provide up to $3 million for a cooperative agreement to an organization to perform a detailed industry assessment and develop standards, best practices, guidance, and tools in safety and other areas to address industry needs and demands. The NOFO builds on a prior FTA program that developed reports consisting of gap analyses and recommendations for transit standards development. Project proposals are due on February 6, 2023.
• FTA hosted a webinar on Thursday, December 15, 2022. View the presentation and FAQs.

Overview

The Standards Development Program (SDP) seeks to develop meaningful transit standards, including minimum performance standards and best practices for efficient, reliable and safe operation of public transportation systems, both rail and non-rail modes.

The goals of FTA’s SDP are to:

• Determine the need to revise or expand existing transit standards due to innovation and technological advancements
• Determine the need for new transit standards in areas where standards are lacking or where there are gaps within existing standards
• Work with the transit industry to develop and implement safety and other standards and best practices

The primary objectives of the SDP are to:

• Conduct background literature review, data gathering and analysis to determine gaps and needs for standards development
• Work with industry stakeholders to inform the standard development process, including associated transit research reports and findings
• Work with Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) to develop guidance documents, standards, or recommended practices for voluntary adoption by the transit industry

Eligible Activities

In accordance with Federal public transportation law (U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B)), activities may include technical assistance and the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry. This includes standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics.

The SDP provides funding for background literature review, analysis, testing, and evaluation of industry critical topic areas, in accordance with Federal public transportation law (U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B)). SDP program funds are used to advance FTA’s standards program through targeted technical assistance and the support activities indicated above in safety and non-safety topic areas to determine if standards should be developed or if existing standards should be modified to address these topic areas. Eligible activities also include the development of public transportation standards in partnership with the transit industry and SDOs. 

The SDP does not include funding for capital procurements.

Eligible Recipients

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
• Standard Development Organizations

Statutory References

Technical Assistance and Workforce Development (49 U.S.C. § 5314(a)(1)(B))

Allocation of Funding

Standards Development Program projects are funded under Technical Assistance and Workforce Development (49 U.S.C. § 5314).

Past Selected Projects

Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) Standards Projects 

Resources

• In calendar years 2021-22, FTA published the following reports under the Standards Development Program: 

• In keeping with a mandate from the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, FTA developed an inventory of public transportation safety standards and protocols. The inventory is available in the Transit Safety Standards Compendium.
• Review and Evaluation of Public Transportation Safety Standards (0103)

Rail Vehicle Replacement Grants

What's New

• On May 5, 2023, FTA announced the allocation of approximately $703.1 million to 6 projects in 6 states in funding from the Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. 

Overview

The Rail Vehicle Replacement Program makes funding available competitively to help fund capital projects to replace rail rolling stock.  For the purposes of this program, rail rolling stock is defined as revenue service, passenger carrying vehicles, or propulsion (locomotives) vehicles necessary for the provision of rail public transportation.  The program is a set-aside of the State of Good Repair Formula Grants Program (49 U.S.C. 5337).

Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients are state and local government authorities in urbanized areas (UZAs) that are eligible for State of Good Repair Formula Funding (Section 5337).

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities are the replacement of rail rolling stock.  For the purposes of this program, rail rolling stock is defined as revenue service, passenger carrying vehicles, or propulsion (locomotives) vehicles necessary for the provision of rail public transportation. Funded capital projects must be in an agency’s  Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan, according to 49 CFR 625.

Statutory Reference

49 U.S.C. 5337 / Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), §30016 

Match

The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost. The maximum share of the grant funding cannot exceed 50 percent of the net project cost.

For example, a rail vehicle replacement project with a total eligible cost of $100,000,000 may receive up to $50,000,000 from this program.  The remaining $50,000,000 could be provided from a combination of non-Federal and other Federal funds, up to $30,000,000 of which could be other Federal funding.  For a $100,000,000 project, at least $20,000,000 (20%) must be non-Federal funds.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration Program

What's New

• On September 22, 2022, FTA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit proposals from organizations interested in advancing research into transit bus automation through demonstrations of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and automation of bus movements in transit bus yards. The demonstration projects will help determine potential benefits, costs, and other impacts of transit bus automation. The demonstration projects will also provide transit agencies with resources, guidance, and tools to make informed deployment decisions. 
• The NOFO states that $6.5 million is available for demonstration projects under the Public Transportation Innovation Program. Project proposals are due November 21, 2022. 
• FTA hosted a webinar for applicants on October 6, 2022, to discuss the NOFO for the Fiscal Year 2022 ADAS for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration. Click here for FAQs.

Overview

The Transit Bus Automation Research program provides $5 million for ADAS for Transit Buses demonstrations to help improve transit bus safety and efficiency. Another $1.5 million for an initial phase of Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations demonstrations is available to improve worker efficiency and safety in bus yards.

As part of FTA’s Strategic Transit Automation Research (STAR) Plan, the projects will demonstrate transit bus automation technologies in real-world settings, help establish the feasibility of deploying ADAS and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations, and improve understanding of the impacts, including transit workforce impacts. Additional information may be found on FTA’s Transit Automation Research webpage.

Eligible Projects

Eligible activities for the ADAS for Transit Buses Demonstration include engineering activities leading to the demonstration of ADAS use cases, such as requirements, architecture, and design development; equipment installation and integration; and pre-demonstration testing. Workforce engagement, training, and skills development activities related to the demonstration are also eligible. Projects will consist of a 12-month minimum for operational demonstration in revenue service. Eligible projects must propose to demonstrate at least one ADAS use case.

Eligible activities for the Automation for Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration include applicable systems engineering activities leading to the proof-of-concept demonstration, such as requirements, architecture, and design development; equipment installation and integration; and testing. Workforce engagement, training, and skills development activities related to the demonstration are also eligible.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants under this NOFO include the following:

• Public transit agencies
• State/local government entities
• Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
• Federally recognized Indian tribes
• Institutions of higher education, particularly those with Minority Serving Institution status

Applications must clearly identify the eligible applicant and all project partners on the project team. Eligible project partners under this program may include, but are not limited to:

• Bus manufacturers
• Technology system suppliers, developers, and integrators
• Operators of transportation services, such as employee shuttle services, airport connector services, university transportation systems, or parking and tolling authorities
• State or local government entities
• Labor unions and other workforce representatives
• Other organizations, including consultants, research consortia, and not-for-profit industry organizations

In the application, eligible applicants are encouraged to identify one or more project partners with a substantial interest and involvement in the project activities or objectives to participate in the implementation of the project. 

If an application that involves such a partnership is selected for funding, the competitive selection process will be deemed to satisfy the requirement for a competitive procurement under 49 U.S.C. 5325(a) for the named entities. Applicants are advised that any changes from the proposed partnership after selection will require FTA’s written approval, must be consistent with the scope of the approved project, and may require competitive procurement unless an exception applies.

To be considered eligible, applicants must be able to demonstrate the requisite legal, financial, and technical capabilities to receive and administer Federal funds under this program. 

Statutory Reference

Federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5312) authorizes FTA’s Public Transportation Innovation Program. Through this program, FTA may support research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects, and evaluation of research and technology of national significance to public transportation that the Secretary determines will improve public transportation service.

Allocation of Funding

Up to $6.5 million is available for demonstration projects, including $5 million for ADAS for Transit Buses and $1.5 million for an initial phase of Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations. Subject to availability, additional funding may be provided to implement a second phase of the Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration. The ADAS for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration Competitive Funding Opportunity is funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment Program authority.

Match

The maximum Federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 80 percent. Applicants 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 non-Federal match. Eligible sources of non-Federal match are detailed in FTA Circular 6100.1E.
 

Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending

What’s New

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328) appropriated $360.5 million in Transit Infrastructure Grants for Community Project Funding (CPF), also known as Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS).  

Overview

CPF is appropriated and allocated from the General Fund for Transit Infrastructure Grants only on an annual basis and at the discretion of Congress. The total funding amounts are specified in the Consolidated Appropriations Act corresponding with each fiscal year, if applicable. The list of projects are found in the accompanying Joint Explanatory Statement.

Eligible Recipients

CPF recipients and their allocations are determined by Congress. All recipients are specifically identified in the Appropriations Act corresponding with the applicable fiscal year.

Eligible Activities

Expenses for these projects that are eligible under FTA’s authorizing language in federal law (Chapter 53 of Title 49, United States Code) are eligible for reimbursement.  

Match

Fiscal year 2022 CPF grants are funded at 100 percent federal share, as Congress did not specify a local match requirement. Fiscal year 2023 CPF grants are available at up to an 80 percent federal share.

Statutory Reference

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328)
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103) 

Projects

The current year CPF allocations (Apportionment Table 20) and the prior year unobligated allocations (Apportionment Table 21) are updated annually and posted on Current Apportionments. The following amounts have currently been appropriated to date:

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328, 2022) $360,459,324
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103, 2022) $200,798,267

Mobility, Access & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Research and Demonstration Program

What's New

• On February 8, 2023, FTA announced the selection of the University of Minnesota-Center for Transportation Studies as the program lead for the Mobility, Access & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Research and Demonstration program, following the notice of funding opportunity published August 9, 2022. More information about the MATI program, including information for communities considering applying to be a demonstration site, will follow soon.
   
• On August 9, 2022, FTA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit proposals for an organization to lead the Mobility, Access & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Demonstration Research program. The NOFO makes $6 million available in Fiscal Year 2021 funds. Project proposals were due October 11, 2022.
   
• FTA hosted a webinar for potential applicants on August 24, 2022. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are posted here.

Overview

The Mobility, Access & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Research and Demonstration program lead will support FTA in establishing an initiative to explore strategies to improve people’s mobility and access to daily needs and evaluate outcomes and impacts upon individuals and communities.  FTA’s efforts aim to support an equitable, integrated transportation system that meets transportation needs for low-income individuals and/or communities of need.

Eligible Activities

All activities leading to the establishment of a research and demonstration program that will explore interventions to ensure mobility access and evaluate outcomes and impacts. Eligible activities include:

• data collection
• transportation feasibility study and analysis
• economic analysis
• stakeholder engagement and outreach
• obtaining necessary equipment and services
• acquiring or developing software and hardware interfaces to implement the project
• performance measurement and evaluation

Eligible demonstrations must target low-income people and communities that routinely experience a lack of reliable transportation. All demonstrations should share similar characteristics of target population, urban context, and availability of public transportation resources. Eligible research demonstration activities include:

• planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans 
• public engagement and participant recruitment
• capital or operating expenses serving the treatment group
• technology application 
• similar necessary components to design and select demonstrations.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants include:

• Departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government, including federal laboratories
• Institutions of higher education including research universities, particularly those with minority-serving institution status
• Non-profit organizations
• For-profit organizations 
• Technical and community colleges

Eligible applicants may also identify one or more partners with substantial expertise, interest, and involvement in the proposed effort. 

Statutory Reference

FTA's Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) supports research and demonstrations to develop and deploy ideas, practices and approaches that advance the interests of public transportation. This NOFO (Federal Assistance Listing: 20.530) was developed to establish a research demonstration program to explore interventions toa ensure mobility access and evaluate outcomes and impacts upon individuals and communities, pursuant to that authority.

Allocation of Funding

The Mobility, Access & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Demonstration Research Program is funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment program authority.

Match 

As permitted under 49 U.S.C. § 5312, given the substantial public interest of conducting research of national significance to inform public policy, the federal share may be up to 100 percent.

All Stations Accessibility Program

What's New

• On December 19, 2022, FTA announced that 15 projects in nine states will receive support to help make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility needs to access some of the nation’s oldest and busiest rail transit systems through essential upgrades, such as elevators. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants represent the first round of funding designed to improve accessibility so everyone, including those who use wheelchairs, push strollers, or cannot easily navigate stairs, can reliably access the rail systems in their communities. FTA will provide approximately $686 million in FY22 and FY23 funding.

Overview

The All Stations Accessibility Program makes competitive funding available to assist in the financing of capital projects to repair, improve, modify, retrofit, or relocate infrastructure of stations or facilities for passenger use.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants for ASAP include designated recipients that allocate funds to legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation systems, states (including territories and Washington D.C.) or local governmental entities that operate legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation systems. 

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities are capital projects to upgrade the accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation systems for people with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, by increasing the number of existing stations or facilities for passenger use that meet or exceed the new construction standards of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131). Activities include:

• Repairing, improving, modifying, retrofitting, or relocating infrastructure of stations or facilities for passenger use, including load-bearing members that are an essential part of the structural frame;
• Developing or modifying a plan for pursuing public transportation accessibility projects, assessments of accessibility, or assessments of planned modifications to stations or facilities for passenger use or programs of projects in an eligible area.

Match

The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital expenditures.

Statutory Reference

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Division J 

Additional Resources

• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fact sheet: All Stations Accessibility Program
• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

FTA Ferry Programs

What's New

• On May 18, 2023, FTA announced approximately $220 million available for Fiscal Year 2023 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.
   
• On January 26, 2023, FTA announced $384.4 million in grant awards to 23 projects in 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands to expand and improve the nation’s ferry service, as well as accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation. The funding will benefit millions of Americans who depend on coastal waters, rivers, bays, and other bodies of water to connect to their communities. Increased funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help replace old vessels, expand fleets, and build new terminals and docks, as well as boost service in rural areas and support the transition to low and zero-emission technologies.
   
• Funding includes: 
  • $34.4 million to projects under the Passenger Ferry Grant program to 8 projects in 6 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • $97.6 million to projects under the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot program to 7 projects in 7 states.
  • $252.4 million to projects under the Ferry Service for Rural Communities program to 8 projects in 4 states.

Ferry Programs:

Passenger Ferry Grant Program – Section 5307(h)

The Passenger Ferry Grant Program makes funding available competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects to support passenger ferry systems in urbanized areas, such as ferry vessels, terminals, and related infrastructure. For Fiscal Year 2023, $50.1 million is available, of which $5 million is set -aside specifically for low- or zero-emission ferries and related facilities/equipment. 

Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program - IIJA § 71102

Earlier this year, FTA announced $384.4 million in project selections through its Ferry Grant Programs, with $97.6 million in funding going toward the The Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program In January 2023, FTA awarded $97.6 million using Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 funds from the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program to 7 projects in 7 states.  

Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program - IIJA § 71103

The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program provides competitive funding to States to ensure basic essential ferry service is provided to rural areas. For Fiscal Year 2023, $170 million is available in grant funding.

Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS)

What's New

• On August 4, 2022, FTA announced the selection of a research group led by Inventev in Detroit, Michigan, to carry out the BEPS program. 
• Inventev and its partners have now started the process of developing standards and specifications for BEPS technologies.
• The target completion date is September 2024 with a hardware demonstration of BEPS in a practical environment.

Overview

FTA’s Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS) program enables public transportation agencies, communities, and states to access resilient and flexible power options through hybrid electric bus fleet vehicles during major power disruptions. This program builds on BEPS technologies developed under FTA’s previous research grants that provided the ability to address a need for generating power immediately after natural disasters by transforming hybrid electric and fuel cell buses into mobile power generators.

The goal of this project is to develop “standards” to interconnect electrified transit buses to buildings, shelters, and microgrids for use as an emergency power supply after incidents that disrupt the local power grid.   

Goal

To develop national interoperable BEPS standards – working with FTA, industry stakeholders and technical partners – so that different manufacturers’ systems can use the same technology base and applications for BEPS solutions.

Objectives

The primary objectives of BEPS program are:

• completion of an industry literature review on BEPS assessing system parameters, specifications, past results and recommendations; 
• technology scans, surveys or case studies with transit agencies with experience utilizing BEPS; 
• standards development;  
• demonstration of a plug-and-play BEPS system that includes minimum specifications and parameters for interoperability; 
• and a guide to implementing a BEPS system using these standards.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include all activities and efforts leading to the development of interoperable BEPS standards. Examples of project activities and efforts include but not limited to:

• System design and demonstration of portable units, industry survey and data collection on existing BEPS systems; 
• System specifications and standards development; 
• Innovations for providing more effective and efficient BEPS systems using public-private partnerships with non-traditional transportation providers; 
• Stakeholder collaboration convenings; literature reviews or case studies on BEPS systems; 
• Surveys on BEPS systems in other industries that could be applicable to public transit BEPS systems; data collection and analytics; 
• Establishing various use cases for BEPS deployment needs; defining system requirements; modeling and simulation; 
• Development, validation and verification of the specification; and 
• Development of industry standards and a guidebook for BEPS solutions that can be shared with the transit industry, including hybrid electric and fuel cell transit bus manufacturers.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients include:

• Providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state or local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes;
• Private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, or consultants;
• State, city or local government entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations such as Metropolitan Planning Organizations;
• Other organizations, including research consortia, not-for-profit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education, including large research universities, particularly those with Minority Serving Institution status;
• Standard Development Organizations (SDOs)

Statutory Reference

The Standard Development for Bus Exportable Power Systems Competitive Funding Opportunity implements House Appropriations Committee direction accompanying  the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260), that directed FTA to fund no less than $1,000,000 to develop interoperable national standards for BEPS that allow use of hybrid electric, and fuel cell buses as mobile power generators to power facilities such as hospitals following natural disasters, and is authorized under Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program (49 U.S.C. § 5314).

Allocation of Funding

BEPS projects are funded under FTA’s Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program.

Match

The Federal share of project costs under this program is 100 percent. 

The Value of Bus Exportable Power Systems

BEPS will perform a critical role in emergency situations:

• Electric buses will have the ability to drive up to buildings such as a schools, places of worship, or stores and within a very short time be able to provide 75kW of power to maintain all important functions.  
• The power source will let the buildings function as an emergency shelter or at least perform in normal capacity.
• In addition to electric buses, hybrid or fuel-cell buses will also be able to provide this emergency power due to standards compatibility.

Potential Users of Bus Exportable Power Systems

Multiple users will be able to use BEPS safely and efficiently including:

• Owners/operators of the buildings.
• Local, state, and federal authorities who designate buildings as safety and resilience centers.
• Fire, police, and other emergency personnel.

BEPS Interim Solution

The figure below shows the BEPS configuration with external inverter to transfer power from an electric or hybrid bus to a building. This is an interim solution until the manufacturers integrate power conversion in the bus. The integrated BEPS configuration is shown above.

Resources

Bus Exportable Power Supply (BEPS) System Use Strategy: Investigating the Use of Transit Buses as Emergency Generators (Report 0146)

Additional Information

Subscribe to receive project updates. The project sponsor requests feedback on the project and may send surveys to subscribers.

Enhancing Mobility Innovation

What's New

• On August 10, 2022, FTA announced nine transit agencies and organizations in six states and the District of Columbia will receive a share of approximately $4 million in Enhancing Mobility Innovation (EMI) grants to improve access and mobility for transit riders. View the project selections.

Overview

FTA’s Enhancing Mobility Innovation program advances a vision of mobility for all – safe, reliable, equitable, and accessible services that support complete trips for all travelers. The program promotes technology projects that center the passenger experience and encourage people to get on board, such as integrated fare payment systems and user-friendly software for demand-response public transportation.

The Enhancing Mobility Innovation program supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities to promote equity and advance transportation that is climate-smart.
Enhancing Mobility Innovation projects fall under two categories:

• Accelerate innovative mobility: Concept development and/or demonstration projects that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience with a focus on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions
• Software solutions: Projects that support the development of software solutions that facilitate integrated demand-response public transportation that dispatches transit vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other means
   

This program builds on FTA’s existing mobility innovation investments, such as the Mobility on Demand Sandbox, the Accelerating Innovative Mobility Initiative and the Integrated Mobility Innovation Program. FTA seeks targeted projects of national significance that can advance the goals of Enhancing Mobility Innovation to:

• Support innovation in passenger-centric mobility that meets evolving needs
• Advance equitable and climate-smart transportation
• Contribute to knowledge of national significance to improve public transportation service
• Advance the vision of mobility for all

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include all activities leading to the development and/or testing of innovative mobility project efforts. This notice solicits applications in two topical areas:

• Projects that develop novel operational concepts and/or demonstrate innovations that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience, focused on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions, or other innovative solutions.
  • Eligible activities may include all activities leading to uncovering the next iteration of promising technologies, practices and strategies that accelerate innovations in mobility for transit, including, but not limited to, technology scanning and feasibility analysis, stakeholder engagement and outreach, planning, acquiring essential equipment or services, project implementation, modeling forecast of climate and equity impacts of proposed novel concepts and evaluating project results.
• Projects that develop software to facilitate demand-response public transportation that dispatches transit vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other means.
  • Eligible activities may include establishing user needs; defining system requirements; development, validation and verification of the software; modeling and simulation; and/or pilot implementation, with a software solution.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants include:

• Providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state or local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes
• Private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including shared-use mobility providers, private operators of transportation services, technology system suppliers and integrators, bus or vehicle manufacturers or suppliers, software and technology developers, financial institutions, consultants, research consortia, and industry organizations
• State, city or local government entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations such as Metropolitan Planning Organizations
• Institutions of higher education including large research universities, particularly those with Minority Serving Institution status

Eligible applicants are encouraged to identify one or more project partners with a substantial interest and involvement in the project to participate in the implementation of the project.

Statutory Reference

The Enhancing Mobility Innovation Competitive Funding Opportunity implements two provisions of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 116-260), that directs FTA to fund $1,000,000 to accelerate mobility innovations that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience, and $1,000,000 to fund competitive awards for the development of software solutions to facilitate demand-response public transportation, and is authorized under the Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312).

Allocation of Funding

The Enhancing Mobility Innovation 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 nine projects in six states and the District of Columbia to receive a share of approximately $4 million in funding for Enhancing Mobility Innovation (EMI) grants to support mobility and innovation in the transit industry. View the project selections.