Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program

What's New

• On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, FTA hosted a webinar providing information about FTA's Fiscal Year 2021 Tribal Transit notice of funding opportunity, including application eligibility and criteria, and the submission process. 
  
  View the presentation | Watch the recording | Read the transcript

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) Program for Fiscal Years (FY) 2016-2020. The TTP is a set-aside from the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program that now consists of a $30 million formula program and a $5 million competitive grant program subject to the availability of appropriations. A 10-percent local match is required under the competitive program.

Project Selections

• FY 2019: $4,954,078
• FY 2018: $4,998,028
• FY 2017: $4,975,528
• FY 2016: $5,000,000
• FY 2014-2015: $10,018,000

Eligible Recipients

Only federally recognized tribes are eligible recipients under the Tribal Transit Program. However, tribes which are not federally recognized remain eligible to apply to the state as a subrecipient for funding under the State's apportionment.

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. Examples of eligible activities include: capital projects including technology projects; operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation; and the acquisition of public transportation services, including service agreements with private providers of public transportation services.

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:

• National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
• National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT)
• National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
• National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP)
• Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)