Competitive

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 automaton of bus movements in transit bus yards. The demonstration projects will help determine potential benefits, costs and other impacts of transit bus automation and provide transit agencies with resources, guidance and tools to make informed deployment decisions.
The NOFO makes $6.5 million available under the Public Transportation Innovation Program. Project proposals are due November 21, 2022.
FTA will host a webinar for applicants on October 6, 2022 to discuss the Fiscal Year 2022 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration Notice of Funding Opportunity. Specific topics will include research scope, eligibility, application and selection process as well as other submission requirements. The purpose of the webinar is to provide an overview of the NOFO and an opportunity for FTA to answer general questions from potential applicants.

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 STAR Plan, the projects 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 minimum 12-month 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 Notice include the following:

Public transit agencies;
State/local government entities;
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs);
Federally recognized Indian tribes; and
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; and
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, 2022 (Public Law 117-103) appropriated $200,798,267 in Transit Infrastructure Grants for Community Project Funding, also known as Congressionally Directed Spending.
FTA’s FY 2022 Apportionment Notice (Section R) provided initial guidance for recipients of this funding, along with Table 20 in FTA’s FY 2022 Apportionment Tables.

Overview

Community Project Funding (CPF) is a source of grants for public transportation projects whose recipients and purposes are specifically identified by Congress in an appropriations act, most recently in the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The selected projects and recipients are detailed in the Joint Explanatory Statement (JES), with the list of CPF grants starting on page H3080.

Eligible Recipients

CPF recipients and their allocations are determined by Congress. All recipients were specifically identified in the FY 2022 Appropriations Act.

Eligible Activities

FY 2022 CPF projects were defined in the JES; 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

FY 2022 CPF grants are funded at 100% federal share, as Congress did not specify a local match requirement.

Statutory Reference

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103).

Projects

FTA Apportionment table for Transit Infrastructure Grants.

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

What's New

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 are 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 July 26, 2022, the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, FTA announced approximately $343 million available for Fiscal Year 2022 grants for the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP). The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will make it easier for people with disabilities to access the nation’s oldest subway, commuter rail and light rail stations.
- View the notice of funding opportunity
- Watch the informational webinars
  - FY2022 NOFO Webinar Presentation 1
  - FY2022 NOFO Webinar Presentation 2
There is no award maximum or cap for ASAP grants. Grants.gov has been updated with this information.

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

FTA Ferry Programs

What's New

On July 8, 2022, FTA announced approximately $294.5 million available for Fiscal Year 2022 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. Webinar dates, slide presentation, and links to a recording of each event is near the bottom of that page.
FTA will be hosting webinars to discuss the requirements of the funding opportunity and how to apply. Potential applicants are welcome to attend any of the webinars. FTA is committed to providing equal access to these sessions for all participants. If you need alternative formats, options, or services, please email FTAFerryPrograms@dot.gov.
- Ferry Grant Programs NOFO Webinar
  Wednesday, July 27, 2022 | 2:30PM EDT
  Webinar
- Ferry Grant Programs NOFO Webinar, with a focus on new ferry programs
  Thursday, July 28, 2022 | 2:30PM EDT
  Webinar

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 FY 2022, $30 million for grants under the program was authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and an additional $6.5 million was appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 of which $3.25 million is for low or zero-emission ferries projects.

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

The Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program provides competitive funding for projects that support the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries and the electrification of or other reduction of emissions from existing ferries. For FY 2022, $49 million for grants under the program.

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 FY 2022, $196 million for grants under the program is authorized and appropriated under BIL and an additional $12,965,000 was appropriated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022.

Bus Exportable Power Systems

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 Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS) Program. BEPS will enable transit agencies, communities and states to access power options through hybrid, electric or fuel-cell buses during major power disruptions. The initiative will start with Inventev and its partners developing standards and specifications for BEPS technologies.
FTA hosted a webinar on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, on the Standard Development for Bus Exportable Power Systems Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which FTA announced in April. The NOFO makes available $1 million in Fiscal Year 2021 funds. Project proposals are due June 13, 2022.
- View the presentation
- Read the Q&A

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

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.

Route Planning Restoration Program

What’s New

On Thursday, June 2, FTA announced 50 transit agencies in 24 states will share $25 million to help restore and improve service that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overview

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:

$26.6 billion to be allocated by statutory formulas to urbanized and rural areas and tribal governments: see apportionments.
$2.2 billion to FTA grant recipients in communities that demonstrate additional pandemic-associated needs: see selections.
$1.675 billion for projects in the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program
$50 million under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities formula program
$25 million for competitive planning grants
$5 million for competitive tribal grants

See FTA’s American Rescue Plan Act Fact Sheet.

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Additional Assistance Route Planning Restoration Program

On Thursday, June 2, FTA announced $25 million in discretionary grant funding selections for 50 transit projects in 24 states through the American Rescue Plan to help public transportation agencies return service from COVID-19 suspensions in ways that can best serve their communities.

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. Under FTA's Route Planning Restoration Program, funding can be used for transit route restoration planning that is designed to increase ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic, reduce travel times and make adjustments to increase the quality or frequency of transit service for low-income riders and those in disadvantaged neighborhoods or communities who may need increased service to get to jobs, shopping and health care.

Read the press release
View the funding selections

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Additional Assistance Funding

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.

Read the press release
View the funding selections

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

On June 23, 2022, FTA announced approximately $16.2 million in FY20 and FY21 funding to the Areas of Persistent Poverty program for 40 projects in 32 states and two territories. View the project selections.

Overview

FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program supports projects that address the transportation challenges faced by areas of persistent poverty. In encouraging timely and efficient investment in public transportation, the AoPP program supports the President’s Build Back Better initiative to mobilize American ingenuity to build modern infrastructure and an equitable, clean energy future. AoPP supports increased transit access for environmental justice populations, equity-focused community outreach, and public engagement of underserved communities.

AoPP promotes planning, engineering, and technical studies or financial planning to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. It will also support coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services such as rides to drug addiction recovery and treatment.

Allocation of Funding

The maximum grant award will not exceed $850,000; however, FTA intends to fund as many meritorious projects as possible. Due to funding limitations, projects selected for funding may receive less than the amount requested. In those cases, applicants must be able to demonstrate that the proposed projects are still viable and can be completed with the amount awarded.