Federal Transit Formula Grants

Objective

Provide federal formula funding to transit agencies, states, and local/regional governments to plan, develop, improve, maintain, and operate public transportation systems in urbanized areas (as defined by the most recent decennial census as urban areas with populations of 50,000 or more). Eligible uses include capital projects, planning, and operating assistance to support regular, continuing shared‑ride public transportation services that are open to the general public or defined segments of the public (e.g., by age, disability, or low income). The program also includes a ferry set‑aside (49 U.S.C. 5307(h)) to support ferry services and related infrastructure in urbanized areas when those ferries are part of the recipient’s public transportation system. Projects must meet standard 5307 eligibility requirements (i.e., serve public transportation needs, not solely tourism, and benefit residents of the urbanized area). Separate competitive Assistance Listings (20.540, 20.538, and 20.539) cover other federal ferry funding opportunities.

Who Can Apply

• Municipality or Township government (inclusive of cities, towns, boroughs (except in Alaska), and villages)
• County Government (inclusive of boroughs in Alaska, parishes and other governmental entities with geographic regional control and authority)
• Other Local Government Consortium, Regional Organization (Intrastate), or Other Local Government Combination
• Transit Authority
• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)
• Interstate Organization
• Local
• State

Funds will be made available for urbanized areas (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and in 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53) through states and designated recipients, which must be public entities and have the legal capacity to receive and dispense federal funds. A state's or territory's Governor, responsible local officials, and publicly owned operators of mass transportation services must jointly select the designated recipient(s) for an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or more. The Governor or her/his designee acts as the designated recipient for an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 to 199,999. Recipients must submit a program of projects detailing how the funds will be used and by whom to FTA; submit a program application to FTA; enter into formal agreements with FTA; and certify that certain public participation requirements have been met.

Who Benefits

The general public (both users and non-users of public transportation); segments of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income; and publicly owned operators of public transportation services. Under certain conditions, private non-profit organizations and their constituents may also benefit from the assistance.

Assistance Types

• Grant

Program Contact

thomas.wilson@dot.gov
(202) 366-2053