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Competitive

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Bus Exportable Power Systems

Metro Bus

What's New

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.

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 applicants under this notice 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)

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 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

The Standard Development for Bus Exportable Power Systems 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. Proposers may offer a non-Federal share of costs. The optional local share must be in cash, or in-kind, and the source of the local match must be documented in the application.
 

Enhancing Mobility Innovation

What's New

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.

Route Planning Restoration Program

What’s New

  • On Tuesday, September 14, FTA announced the FY21 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Route Planning Restoration Program.
  • FTA hosted a webinar on the funding opportunity on October 6, 2021. The webinar provided information and an overview of the Route Planning Restoration Program.

    View the presentation 

Overview

The Route Planning Restoration Program provides funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for public transportation planning associated with the restoration of transit service reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Route Planning Restoration Program advances President Biden’s administrative priorities and Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and Executive Order 13990: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle Climate Crisis by planning for the restoration of transit service, particularly for underserved populations, with a focus on improving equity. The program will advance Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad by supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and more efficient transit service.

Section - Eligible Activities

  • FTA will competitively award grants to undertake transit route planning activities that are designed to:
  • increase ridership and reduce travel times, while maintaining or expanding the total level of vehicle revenue miles of service provided in the planning period; or make service adjustments to increase the quality or frequency of service provided to low-income riders and disadvantaged neighborhoods or communities. 

Applicants should reference FTA Circular 8100-1D - Program Guidance for Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program Grants and FTA Circular 9030.1E - Urbanized Area Formula Program: Program Guidance and Application Instructions.

Eligible Recipients

Applicants must be eligible recipients under Section 5307 of Title 49, United States Code (FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Grants program), as of the publication date of the Route Planning Restoration Program Notice of Funding Opportunity on GRANTS.GOV.  Additionally, applicants must have experienced a reduction in transit service any time on or after January 20, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statutory References

  • Urbanized Area Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5307)
  • The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law No. 117-2, March 11, 2021)

Match

There is no local match requirement as the minimum federal share for this program is 100 percent.
 

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-19 pandemic and support the President’s call to vaccinate the U.S. population.

The relief funds are being distributed as follows, at 100-percent federal share:

See FTA’s American Rescue Plan Act Fact Sheet. 

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Additional Assistance Funding
Opportunity

On Monday, March 7, FTA announced funding selections for $2.2 billion in discretionary grant funding for transit systems demonstrating additional pandemic-associated needs. 

Additional Assistance funding is being awarded to 35 transit systems in 18 states demonstrating additional assistance is needed to cover operating expenses related to maintaining day-to-day operations, cleaning and sanitization, combating the spread of pathogens on transit systems and maintaining critical staffing levels.

NOFO Information | Webinar Presentation | Webinar Recording

American Rescue Plan Webinar

FTA hosted an American Recue Plan Act webinar for the public transportation industry on April 2, 2021. The webinar provided an overview of the program, described eligibility requirements and allowed an opportunity to ask questions.

Presentation | Recording

American Rescue Plan Act Apportionments

ARP formula funding is being disbursed through FTA apportionments to its Urbanized Area, Rural Formula, Tribal Transit, and Enhanced Mobility of Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities programs. 
 

Areas of Persistent Poverty Program

What's New

Overview

The Areas of Persistent Poverty program provides grants for planning, engineering, technical studies, or financial plans to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. It also supports coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services, including paratransit.

The Areas of Persistent Poverty program supports President Biden’s Build Back Better initiative to mobilize American ingenuity to build modern infrastructure and an equitable, clean energy future. To determine if your area qualifies as an Area of Persistent Poverty, review the list of counties and census tracts listed in USDOT’s RAISE Persistent Poverty Project Status Tool.

Eligible Activities

The Areas of Persistent Poverty program seeks to provide funding for planning, engineering, technical studies, or financial plans that will result in improved public transportation, new routes and facilities, and innovative technologies in communities experiencing a high poverty rate, for projects eligible under Chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. in areas of persistent poverty.

Eligible Recipients

Applicants for the Areas of Persistent Poverty program must be eligible recipients or sub-recipients under section 5307, 5310, or 5311 of title 49, U.S. Code. An application must clearly identify the eligible lead applicant and all project partners on the team. 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 including consultants, research consortia or nonprofit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education

Statutory References

  • Urbanized Area Formula Grants (49 U.S.C. § 5307)
  • Formula Grants for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities (49 U.S.C. § 5310)
  • Formula Grants for Rural Areas (49 U.S.C. § 5311)

Match

The minimum Federal share for projects selected under the Areas of Persistent Poverty Program is 90 percent of the net total project cost (i.e., the local share will be no more than 10 percent of the net total project cost, not 10 percent of the requested grant amount).  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.
 

Integrated Mobility Innovation

Collage with video player button

What's New

Overview

Today, a diverse mobility ecosystem provides unprecedented flexibility and choices, including public transit, bikeshare, ride-hailing, electric scooters, and micro-transit. Public transportation agencies are taking on new roles as mobility managers, seeking to manage the evolving transportation ecosystem to meet their communities’ needs while they simultaneously transform themselves to offer better, more integrated service.

The IMI demonstration program supports the transit industry’s ability to leverage and integrate mobility innovations with existing services, while examining the impact of innovations on agency operations and the traveler experience. 

IMI unifies three research focus areas: Mobility on Demand, Transit Automation, and Mobility Payment Integration. These areas examine how new service models, technologies, and other solutions can be brought together to support Complete Trips for All. 

The goals of IMI are to:

  • Explore new business approaches and technology solutions that support mobility
  • Enable communities to adopt innovative mobility solutions that enhance transportation efficiency and effectiveness
  • Facilitate the widespread deployment of proven mobility solutions that expand personal mobility

The primary objectives of IMI are to:

  • Enhance transit industry preparedness for IMI
  • Assist the transit industry to develop the ability to integrate IMI practices with existing public transit service
  • Validate the technical and institutional feasibility of IMI business models, and document IMI best practices that may emerge from the demonstrations
  • Measure the impacts of IMI on travelers and transportation systems
  • Examine relevant public sector and Federal requirements, regulations, and policies that may support or hamper the public transit sector’s adoption of IMI

The Complete Trip Vision

IMI leverages FTA’s leadership of the Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) to ensure that all activities conducted as part of the IMI program advance the vision of a Complete Trip for All. The Complete Trip concept reflects the understanding that a person’s travel consists of a chain of steps beginning with an often-spontaneous decision to make a trip, through to planning an itinerary, traversing the built environment and its transportation networks (with or without a vehicle); navigating streets, intersections, facilities, stations, and stops to their destination – safely, efficiently, and carefree. 

The Complete Trip is the realization that if any part of the trip-making chain is broken, the trip cannot be completed, and an opportunity is lost.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include all activities leading to the demonstration, such as planning and developing business models, obtaining equipment and service, acquiring or developing software and hardware interfaces to implement the project, operating the demonstration, and providing data to support performance measurement and evaluation.

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants under this notice are providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, state/local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Statutory References

Public transportation innovation (49 U.S.C. § 5312)

Allocation of Funding

The IMI projects are funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment program authority.

Selected Projects

FTA selected 25 projects in 23 states to receive a share of approximately $20 million in funding through the IMI initiative to support mobility and innovation in the transit industry. View the project selections.

Technical Assistance

The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable methodology and platform to access resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA. Participating FTA-funded technical assistance centers include:

Low or No Emission Vehicle Program - 5339(c)

People board a bus.

What's New

Overview

The Low or No Emission competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.

Allocation of Funding

Funding is allocated to projects on a competitive basis, from proposals submitted to FTA in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Past project selections include:

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include direct or designated recipients of FTA grants; States; local governmental authorities; and Indian Tribes. Except for projects proposed by Indian Tribes, proposals for funding eligible projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated state proposal. States and other eligible applicants also may submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas.

Eligible Activities

Eligible projects include:

  • purchasing or leasing low- or no-emission buses
  • acquiring low- or no-emission buses with a leased power source
  • constructing or leasing facilities and related equipment (including intelligent technology and software) for low- or no-emission buses
  • constructing new public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses
  • rehabilitating or improving existing public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses
  • Additionally 0.5% of a request may be for workforce development training and an additional 0.5% may be for training at the National Transit Institute (NTI).  Applicants for zero-emission vehicles must also spend 5% of their award on workforce development and training as outlined in their Zero-Emission Transition Plan, unless the applicant certifies that their financial need is less.

Statutory Reference

49 U.S.C. 5339 (c), IIJA § 30018, IIJA Division J

Funding Availability

Funds remain available for obligation for four fiscal years. This includes the fiscal year in which the amount is made available or appropriated plus three additional years.

Match

All eligible expenses under the Low-No Program are attributable to compliance with the Clean Air Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Therefore, the Federal share of the cost of leasing or purchasing a transit bus is not to exceed 85 percent of the total transit bus cost. The federal share in the cost of leasing or acquiring low- or no-emission bus-related equipment and facilities is 90 percent of the net project cost.  Applicants must identify these specific activities in their application in order to receive this increased federal share.

Additional Resources

Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program

"innovation"

What's New

  • On January 19, 2021, FTA announced that 37 projects in 35 states and one territory will receive a share of approximately $15.8 million in funding. Grant recipients will receive a share of $15.8 million to support strategies that develop, deploy and demonstrate solutions that improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies and enhance rider mobility during the COVID–19 public health emergency. View the project selections.

Overview

The COVID-19 public health emergency has had a significant impact on transit operations. During a series of FTA listening sessions, transit agencies asked FTA to support research to identify solutions to address the operational challenges that they are facing as a result of COVID-19. In response, FTA announced a new $10 million FY 2020 Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program. An additional $5.8 million in research funding was added to the program to maximize the number of states that could participate Nationwide, transit agencies are increasing the availability of service. The research and demonstration program will help evaluate, assess the efficacy, and promote promising innovative transit solutions that address challenges transit agencies are facing with the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Objectives

The COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program supports strategies to develop, deploy, and demonstrate innovative solutions that improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies and enhance the mobility of transit users affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This new program has a specific focus on the following areas:

  • vehicle, facility, equipment and infrastructure cleaning and disinfection 
  • exposure mitigation measures
  • innovative mobility such as contactless payments
  • measures that strengthen public confidence in transit services

Selected Projects

FTA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program in the fall of 2020. In response to the NOFO, FTA received 104 eligible project proposals totaling approximately $63.4 million.

On January 19, 2021, the FTA announced approximately $15.8 million in grant selections through the COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program.

Statutory References

49 U.S.C. Section 5312

Allocation of Funding

The Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Program projects are funded under FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment program authority.

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Competitive Program

What's New

  • On February 22, 2022, FTA announced the availability of $8.75 million in Fiscal Year 2022 competitive grant funding to support transit services for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in rural areas.
     
  • FTA has recorded the March 24 webinar, which covered project eligibility, evaluation criteria, and program requirements. Additionally, information comparing the FY22 Tribal Transit Program and joint Low-No and Bus Competitive Program is available here.
  • On January 19, 2022, FTA announced approximately $10.3 million in Tribal Transit Program grant awards to 36 tribal governments for projects that support transit services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages in rural areas. View the project selections.

Program Overview  

Federal public transportation law (49 USC 5311(c)(1)(A)) authorizes the competitive amount of the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit Program or TTP) Program. The TTP is a set-aside from the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program that included a $30 million formula program and a $5 million competitive grant program for Fiscal Years 2016-2021.

Project Selections

Eligible Recipients

Eligible applicants include federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribes as identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). This list can be found at: https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-leaders-directory/federally-recognized-tribes.

Eligible Activities 

Federally recognized tribes may use the funding for capital, operating, planning, and administrative expenses for public transit projects that meet the growing needs of rural tribal communities. All activities eligible under Section 5311 are also eligible under the TTP.

FTA Regional Tribal Liaisons 

Federal Transit Administration's Regional Tribal Liaisons

Coordination with Federal Programs

FTA’s Tribal Transit Program allows grantees to coordinate and assist in regularly providing meal delivery service for homebound individuals, if the delivery service does not conflict with providing public transportation service or reduce service to public transportation passengers. Learn more about the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).

Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL)

The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable methodology and platform to access resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA. Participating FTA-funded technical assistance centers include:

 

Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program - Section 3005(b)

What's New

  • On May 10, 2022, the Federal Transit Administration issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) announcing the Department’s intention to obligate funds for the 6.7-mile at-grade light rail transit (LRT) system that would add a north-south connection between Pacoima and Van Nuys and improve mobility for the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Phase I Project.  The letter lays out several conditions that LACMTA must meet in the next two years to allow the project to be considered for a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) as part of the Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program.
     
  • On March 28, 2022, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the Department is recommending $4.45 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to advance new rail and bus rapid transit projects for first-time funding and to continue funding for projects with existing construction grants through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program and Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program.
     
    • FTA’s FY2023 Annual Report on Funding Recommendations identifies projects for funding provided to the CIG and EPD Pilot Programs for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as funding provided in Fiscal Year 2022 through the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This combination of FY 2022 and FY 2023 funding includes funding recommendations for two EPD Pilot Program Projects and proposes funding for EPD Pilot Program Projects that may become ready for construction funding during FY 2023.

Overview

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 approved.

On July 28, 2020, FTA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until up to eight grants are awarded, subject to funding availability.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, FTA hosted a webinar to provide information on the EPD Pilot Program.

View the presentation | Listen to the recording | Read the transcript

Applicants must use the EPD Pilot Program application.

Objectives

The EPD Pilot Program streamlines project delivery of new transit infrastructure that meets program requirements. It encourages innovative partnerships and funding so projects can be completed more quickly.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects are new fixed guideway capital projects, small start projects, or core capacity improvement projects that have not entered into a full funding grant agreement with FTA. The law defines these types of eligible projects for the EPD Pilot Program in a manner similar to, but not entirely the same as, FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. Applicants should therefore read the NOFO carefully to understand the EPD Pilot Program project eligibility. New fixed guideway capital projects or small start projects may include the acquisition of real property, the initial acquisition of rolling stock for the system, the acquisition of right-of-way, and relocation. Core capacity improvement projects may include the acquisition of real property, the acquisition of rights-of-way, double tracking, signalization improvements, electrification, expanding system platforms, acquisition of rolling stock associated with corridor improvements increasing capacity, construction of infill stations, and such other capacity improvements as FTA determines are appropriate to increase the capacity of an existing fixed guideway system corridor by not less than 10 percent.

Eligible Recipients

State or local government authorities who must demonstrate:

  • Legal, financial, and technical capacities to carry out the eligible project, including the safety and security aspects of the eligible project;
  • Satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities;
  • The technical and financial capacity to maintain new and existing equipment and facilities;
  • That they have qualified advisors providing guidance on the terms and structure of the project who are independent from investors in the project; and
  • That the existing public transportation system is in a state of good repair.
    • This requirement may be waived by FTA if the project meets the definition of a core capacity improvement project, and FTA determines that the eligible project will allow the applicant to make substantial progress in achieving a state of good repair.

Application and Selection Process

FTA provides technical assistance to potential grant applicants including working with them to understand the program requirements and develop a complete application package. Per the NOFO, the complete applications must be submitted electronically via FTA’s EPD Pilot Program secure application submission site and must include responses to all sections, forms, and attachments, unless indicated as optional. Only the information submitted to the application site will be used to determine the applicant and project eligibility for the EPD Pilot Program and to evaluate the proposal against the criteria described in the NOFO.

Once an application is submitted, FTA will review the completeness of the application. This is a high-level review to determine if any requested information is missing or incomplete. If the submitted application is missing requirements, or requirements are not complete, then the application will be denied, and therefore not progress to the next phase. The project sponsor may resubmit their application once they believe they have addressed the incomplete item(s), per the NOFO.

An application that is deemed complete will advance to the 120-day statutory review phase, which includes a detailed review of the application and coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation for their consideration of FTA’s recommended action. During this phase, FTA will hold regularly scheduled meetings with the applicant to exchange feedback, gain clarifications on any issues or concerns, request updated documentation and discuss the progress of the application. Within 120 days, FTA will notify the project sponsor with one of the following:

  • Selected/Approval for a:
    • Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA): The development of an FFGA will be recommended if the project sponsor’s application fully meets the eligibility requirements in the NOFO. With the FFGA, FTA commits to a specific dollar amount of EPD Pilot Program funding for the project scope as presented in the project sponsor’s application, and contingent on the availability of funding. Congressional notice will be given 30 days in advance of issuing an FFGA.
    • Letter of Intent (LOI): If certain conditions have not been met for an application deemed worthy of selection, FTA will issue a LOI. A LOI contains a list of conditions that have been identified from FTA’s review of the project sponsor’s application. Once the LOI conditions are met, the project can be considered for a FFGA. With a LOI, FTA commits to a specific dollar amount of EPD Pilot Program funding for the project scope as presented in the project sponsor’s application, and contingent on the availability of funding. A LOI and its commitment of federal funding will expire after two years if conditions are not met. Congressional notice will be given 30 days in advance of issuing a LOI. If the project advances to the development of an FFGA, FTA will provide a second congressional notice 30 days before the award of the grant agreement.
  • Not Selected/Disapproval: If the application does not meet the requirements of the NOFO, FTA’s written notice will include a detailed explanation of the reasons for the disapproval.
Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program Process Schedule

Allocation of Funding

New Update! A total of $325 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, FY 2020, FY 2019, FY 2017 and FY 2016 funds are available, of which $100 million is currently available for allocation. FTA has made two allocations totaling $225 million, to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, California, for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II project. Any project sponsor that receives or has already received an allocation of EPD funds must still submit the formal application outlined in the NOFO to receive the grant.

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 25 percent.

Disclaimer

The contents of this page do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This guidance is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. Grantees and subgrantees should refer to FTA’s statutes and Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for applicable requirements of the EPD Pilot Program.