FTA Announces Approximately $20 Million Funding Opportunity To Help Communities Prosper Through Access To Transit

To create new opportunities for those experiencing poverty, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to help improve transit in areas experiencing long-term economic distress.

The $20 million in competitive grant funding through FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program provides more resources to underserved and disadvantaged communities that are seeking to expand or improve transit systems.

The AoPP program supports planning and technical studies to improve public transportation in areas experiencing long-term economic hardship. It involves both rural and urban communities. The AoPP program also funds planning for transit agencies to transition to low- and no-emission vehicles and associated charging equipment.

Projects will be selected based on the evaluation criteria in the NOFO, including President’s Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Equity Through the Federal Government. As part of its effort to streamline processes for those seeking federal funding, FTA has simplified the application process.

Given that many economically-distressed communities also face environmental challenges, special consideration will be given to projects that mitigate air, water, and ground pollution.

Applicants may use FTA’s mapping tool to determine if a proposed project is in an Area of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Community. Those areas are defined differently from previous years, creating consistency in definitions across the U.S. Department of Transportation, including in the RAISE Grant program.

Visit www.transit.dot.gov for more information.