Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning and Research (Section 5304)

Objective

The goals of the FTA’s Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning and Research Program (Section 5304) are to support comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation planning processes that improve mobility and accessibility in areas outside metropolitan urbanized regions. Specifically, Section 5304 aims to enhance transportation planning in rural and nonmetropolitan areas by providing funding and technical assistance to States and local agencies, promote coordination among local, regional, and State agencies to develop efficient transportation systems that address the unique needs of rural communities, support the development and implementation of Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs (STIPs) that include nonmetropolitan areas, advance multimodal transportation planning, integrating transit, highways, freight, bicycle, pedestrian, and other modes to improve connectivity and accessibility and incorporate performance-based planning and asset management practices tailored to nonmetropolitan contexts. This Assistance Listing 20.535 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.505, please refer to former ALN 20.505 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.535 will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.

Who Can Apply

• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• State
• Planning Commission

Only State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) are directly eligible applicants for assistance. However, funding may be passed through from the State DOT to other eligible subrecipients, such as; rural local governments, Tribal governments, Regional planning organizations, Nonmetropolitan local officials, and Public transportation operators in rural and small urban areas. The program is structured to ensure that nonmetropolitan and tribal transportation needs are integrated into the overall statewide transportation planning process. States are encouraged to involve and support local and tribal entities in developing planning activities and documents.

Who Benefits

• State

State DOT are directly eligible for assistance. The program is structured to ensure that nonmetropolitan and tribal transportation needs are integrated into the overall statewide transportation planning process. States are encouraged to involve and support local and tribal entities in developing planning activities and documents.

Assistance Types

• Grant

Program Contact

fleming.el-amin@dot.gov
(202) 366-0233