This funding record is inactive. Please see the program website or contact the program sponsor to determine if this program is currently accepting applications or will open again in the future.

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program)

Link

https://www.transit.dot.gov/tribal-transit

Additional Links

Notice of Funding Opportunity (Grants.gov)

Deadline

Application Deadline: Jun 26, 2023

Sponsor

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Purpose

Awards grant funding to Native American tribes to support rural public transit services in tribal areas. Assists communities in meeting their needs for increased access to jobs, healthcare, behavioral health, and other services and locations not currently accessible by transit. Eligible projects include:

Planning projects
Operating projects
Capital projects

Funds may be used for any purpose eligible under the FTA Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program, including the cost of:

Buses
Communications equipment
Construction or rehabilitation of transportation facilities
Preventive maintenance
Vehicle rehabilitation, remanufacture, or overhaul
Computer hardware or software to support operations
Development plans for transportation projects
Job access and reverse commute projects

The Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) consists of both a discretionary and a formula grant program. For information on the formula grant program, see the Formula Grants for Rural Areas opportunity.

Amount of Funding

Award ceiling: $25,000 per year for planning projects
Project period: Up to 2 years
Estimated number of awards: 25
Estimated total program funding: $8,935,753

There is no award ceiling for capital and operating projects. However, FTA has the discretion to cap the amount for these awards.

Competitive grants awarded through this program do not replace or reduce state funds that Indian tribes receive through the FTA Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Department of the Interior.

Applicants must be located and provide service in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less. A service area may include portions of urban areas; however, the tribal transit service must begin in and serve rural areas.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that create significant community benefits related to the environment.

Geographic Coverage

Nationwide

What This Program Funds

Buildings and Facilities • Capacity Building • Equipment • New Program • Operating Costs and Staffing

Application Process

Application instructions and other information about the online application process can be found in the funding announcement.

Tribal Transit Program supplemental form
Applicant webinar recording and slides

Contact

For programmatic or technical questions:
Elan Flippin
202-366-3800
TribalTransit@dot.gov

Rural Awards

Examples of past awards rural communities received in fiscal year 2023 are described on the program website.

Topics This Program Addresses

American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians • Infrastructure • Transportation