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

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Competitive Program

What's New

  • FTA hosted an instructional webinar for the FY24 Tribal Transit Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity on September 25.
  • On August 15, 2024, FTA announced the FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program for the Tribal Transit Grant Program. Applications are due by 11/13/2024.
  • As part of FTA’s commitment to ensuring programs and policies are responsive to the needs and concerns of Indian Tribes and Tribal Leaders, FTA sought comments on FTA’s Tribal Transit competitive grants program and technical assistance.
  • 2023 Tribal Consultation: Seeking Comments on the Tribal Transit Program
    FTA conducted a consultation with Tribal Nations and requested comments related to the Tribal Transit Program (TTP). Specifically, FTA consulted with Tribal recipients to ensure the TTP is being administered in a beneficial manner following increases in the amount of funding available and increases in the number of Tribes participating, as well as other changes related to the program. 

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 includes a formula program and a competitive grant program.

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:

Grant Type: Competitive