Transit Programs

Description: To provide financial assistance in meeting the transportation needs of elderly persons and person with disabilities where public transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate in all areas - urbanized, small urban, and rural

Eligible Recipients: States apply for funds on behalf of local private non-profit agencies and certain public bodies. Private non-profit organizations who have been providing services to elderly and disabled individuals for at least one year prior to application are eligible to apply for program funds. While the assistance is intended primarily for private non-profit organizations, public bodies who coordinate services for the elderly and disabled, or any public body that certifies to the State that non-profit organizations in the area are not readily available to carry out the services, are eligible for funding.

Eligible Purposes: Capital projects are eligible for funding. Although the Federal program allows for additional capital-related assistance, the DOTD limits funding to the acquisition of buses, vans or other paratransit vehicles which meet DOTD specifications; and the acquisition of wheelchair lifts and restraints.

Allocation of Funding: Funds are allocated among the States by a formula based on population of elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

Match: 85 percent Federal and 15 percent local

Funding Availability: Year of appropriation (one year).

For More Information Contact call 225-379-3060

Program Description:

The Intercity Bus Service provides a source of funding to develop and support intercity bus transportation.  The objectives of the Intercity Bus Service are: to support the connection between rural areas and the larger regional system of intercity bus service; to support services to meet the intercity travel needs of residents in rural areas; and to support the infrastructure of the intercity bus network through planning and marketing assistance and capital investments in facilities.  

Eligibility:

Intercity Bus Operators that have the capability of obtaining a large number of over the road, lift-equipped buses through ownership, leasing, or commitments with other motor coach owners/operators that have Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) authority to conduct for-hire transportation of passengers.

Application Process:

Intercity Bus Providers must apply directly to the DOTD for assistance under this program.

Federal/Local Share:

Operating Assistance – The federal share is 50 percent, and the local share is 50 percent.

Capital Assistance – The federal share is 85 percent, and the local share is 15 percent for accessible vehicles.

Matching funds are required.  Federal funds from other programs, which are received by a local Section 5311 operation through a purchase of service contract, may be used for a portion of the required local match.

Description: This program establishes a cooperative, continuous, and comprehensive framework for making transportation investment decisions in metropolitan areas. Objectives are to assist in development of transportation improvement programs, long-range transportation plans, and other technical studies.

Eligible Recipients: State DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Eligible Purposes: Those that support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency; increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users; increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight; protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, and improve quality of life; enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight; promote efficient system management and operation; and emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

Allocation of Funding: Funds are allocated by formula, with the national level of funding authorization varying by year, depending on the degree to which Congress appropriates non-guaranteed funds authorized for appropriation from the General Fund.

Match: The Federal share is 80 percent and the local share is 20 percent.

Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus three years.

Reports: (1) Progress reports; (2) Financial report upon completion of the project; and (3) Final technical study report (if applicable). Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations.

Records: Required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of the final Financial Status Report pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents.

For More Information Contact: 225-379-3060.

Description: The goals of the nonurbanized formula program are: 1) to enhance the access of people in nonurbanized areas to health care, shopping, education, employment, pubic services, and recreation; 2) to assist in the maintenance, development, improvement, and use of public transportation systems in rural and small urban areas; 3) to encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all Federal funds used to provide passenger transportation in nonurbanized areas through the coordination of programs and services; 4) to assist in the development and support of intercity bus transportation; and 5) to provide for the participation of private transportation providers in nonurbanized transportation to the maximum extent feasible.

Eligible Recipients: State and local governments, non-profit organizations (including Indian tribes and groups), and public transit operators. Public bodies in non-urbanized areas may apply for program funds. Approved applicants may elect to subcontract with private providers or social service agencies for the provision of service. The applicant must certify that both the recipient itself and any sub-recipient comply with all state and federal requirements

Eligible Purposes: Funds may be used for capital, operating, and administrative purposes.

Allocation of Funding: Funding is apportioned by a statutory formula that is based on the latest U.S. Census figures of areas with a population less than 50,000. The amount that the state may use for state administration, planning, and technical assistance activities is limited to 15 percent of the annual apportionment. States must spend 15 percent of the apportionment to support rural intercity bus service unless the Governor certifies that the intercity bus needs of the state are adequately met.

Match: The maximum Federal share for capital and project administration is 85 percent for projects that meet the requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Clean Air Act, or bicycle access projects, which may be funded at 90 percent.) The maximum Federal share for operating assistance is 50 percent of the net operating costs. The local share is 50 percent, which shall come from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, or new capital.

Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus two years (total of three years).

For More Information Contact call 225-379-3060

Description: To assist in the development of cost effective multimodal transportation improvement programs which include the planning, engineering, and designing of Federal Transit projects, and other technical studies in a program for a unified and officially coordinated Statewide Transportation System.

Eligible Recipients: State DOTs.

Eligible Purposes: Includes such activities as planning, technical studies and assistance, innovative demonstrations, management training, and cooperative research. In addition, the State may authorize a portion of these funds to be used to supplement and administer Metropolitan Planning funds allocated by the State to its urbanized areas, as the State deems appropriate.

Allocation of Funding: Funds are allocated by formula. Match: The Federal share is 80 percent and the State's share is 20 percent.

Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus three years.

Reports: (1) Progress reports; (2) Financial report upon completion of the project and (3) Final technical study report (if applicable). 

Records Retention: State is required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of the final financial status report pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents.

For More Information call 225-379-3060​

Description: Provides a source of funding to assist in the design and implementation of training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the specific needs of transit operators in nonurbanized areas. The objective of the Statewide Training and Technical Assistance Program are:

• Promote the safe and effective delivery of public transportation in nonurbanized areas and to make more efficient use of public and private resources
• Foster the development of state and local capacity for addressing the training and technical assistance needs of the transportation community
• Improve the quality of information and technical assistance available through the development of training and technical assistance resource materials
• Facilitate peer-to-peer self help through the development of local networks of transit professionals
• Support the coordination of public, private, specialized, and human service transportation services

Eligible Recipients: Local government and local transit operators

Allocation of Funding: FTA allocates funds to the states based on an administrative formula. The formula first allocates $65,000 to each of the states and Puerto Rico, and $10,000 to the Insular Areas of Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, and the Virgin Islands and then distributes the balance according to nonurbanized population of the states.

Match: There is no Federal requirements for a local match.

Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus two years (total of three years)

For More Information: 

National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) https://www.nationalrtap.org/

Current sub-recipients may also find training resources in STTARS.

For Additional Assistance: RTAP Program Manager Megan Tullier; [email protected] 

Description: Grants to finance the acquisition, construction, cost-effective leasing, maintenance, planning, and improvement of facilities and equipment for use by operation, lease, contract, or otherwise in mass transportation service and for urbanized areas with populations under 200,000 to assist with the payment of operating expenses to improve or to continue such service by operation, lease, contract or otherwise.

Eligible Recipients: Funding is made available to designated recipients that must be public entities with the legal authority to receive and dispense Federal funds. Governors, responsible local officials and publicly owned operators of transit services are to designate a recipient to apply for, receive, and dispense funds for transportation management areas pursuant to 49USCA5307(a)(2). Generally, a transportation management area is an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or over. The Governor or Governor’s designee is the designated recipient for urbanized areas between 50,000 and 200,000.

Eligible Purposes: Planning, engineering design and evaluation of transit projects and other technical transportation-related studies; capital investments in bus and bus-related activities such as replacement of buses, overhaul of buses, rebuilding of buses, crime prevention and security equipment and construction of maintenance and passenger facilities; and capital investments in new and existing fixed guideway systems including rolling stock, overhaul and rebuilding of vehicles, track, signals, communications, and computer hardware and software. All preventive maintenance and some Americans With Disabilities Act complementary paratransit service are considered capital costs.

Allocation of Funding: Funding is apportioned on the basis of legislative formulas. For areas of 50,000 to 199,999 in population, the formula is based on population and population density. For areas with populations of 200,000 and more, the formula is based on a combination of bus revenue vehicle miles, bus passenger miles, fixed guideway revenue vehicle miles, and fixed guideway route miles as well as population and population density.

Match: The Federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital and planning assistance. The Federal share may be 90 percent for the cost of vehicle-related equipment attributable to compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act. The Federal share may also be 90 percent for projects or portions of projects related to bicycles. The Federal share for transit systems in areas 50,000 to 199,000 in population may not exceed 50 percent of the net cost for operating assistance. Operating assistance is not available for transit systems in areas of 200,000 and greater.

Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus three years

Reports: (1) Progress reports; (2) Construction reports where applicable. 

Records Retention: Recipient is required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of the final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents.

For More Information Contact: 225-379-3060.​​