Funding: Federal Transit Administration appropriation information is available on FTA's Funding and Finance page.
Program Goal and Brief Description: This program is intended to enhance mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities by providing Federal Transit Administration funds for programs in small urbanized and rural areas that serve the special needs of transit-dependent populations beyond traditional public transportation services and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services. The program provides 80% of the cost of capital projects; the remaining 20% must be provided by local funding, which may be derived from other federal (non-U.S. DOT) transportation sources or the Federal Lands Highway Program.
Who Can Apply? Nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organizations, local public agencies identified by the state as lead agencies in a coordination project, or local public agencies certifying that no nonprofit organizations exist within their jurisdiction to carry out public transportation projects to meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Application Process: Funds are available each Federal Fiscal Year and are distributed through a competitive application process. There are two types of applicants - those from small urbanized areas and those from rural areas. Certain responsibilities are assigned to the eight small urban Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). ODOT has established the eligibility requirements to be used for all applicants. Each small urban MPO may establish additional eligibility requirements and deadlines to fit its urbanized area's needs so long as such requirements and deadlines are not less restrictive than ODOT's.