TxDOT's Public Transportation Division administers federal grant programs, including Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grants. These grants are for specific purposes and have separate eligibility and funding requirements. The Public Transportation Division requests applications for specific grant funding sources through calls for projects.
Current Calls for Projects - Federal Transit Administration Grants
 2018 State Funds Program (Rural and Urban)The Public Transportation Division (PTN) made FY 2018 State Rural and State Urban application opportunities available in eGrants on June 6, 2017, for projects relating to FTA's Rural and Urban Areas. Below are links to this year's application instructions and related information. Questions? Contact a local Public Transportation Coordinator for information.
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| 2017 Section 5311 Rural Areas The Public Transportation Division made the Section 5311 opportunity available in eGrants on Feb. 10, 2017, for projects relating to FTA's Rural Areas (49 U.S.C. 5311). Below are the links to date to this year's application and related information. Questions? Contact a local Public Transportation Coordinator for information.
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| 2017-2018 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program The Public Transportation Division requests applications for projects relating to FTA's Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (49 U.S.C. 5310). Below are the links to this year's application and related information. Questions? Contact a local Public Transportation Coordinator for information.
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| 2017 Regionally Coordinated Transportation Planning Program The Public Transportation Division requests proposals for Innovative Demonstration Projects relating to regional public transit-human services transportation plans (49 U.S.C. 5304). Below are links to instructions for this call for demonstration projects and related information. The Public Transportation Division will offer webinars to share information and answer questions and will post responses to written questions concerning this call for demonstration projects on the TxDOT website. See the Instructions document for more information on these opportunities to ask questions.
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Past Calls for Projects
| 2016 Coordinated Call for Projects The Public Transportation Division requests applications for the following programs.
Below are the links to the application and related information. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. CST on Feb. 16, 2016. Questions? Contact us.
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| 2016 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program The Public Transportation Division also requests applications for projects relating to FTA's Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (49 U.S.C. 5310). Below are the links to the previous year's application and related information. Applications for a two-year combined award FY 2017-2018 will be posted in late fall 2016. Questions? Contact a local Public Transportation Coordinator for information.
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Grant Programs – General Information
For more information, contact us.
| Rural Public Transportation The Rural Public Transportation grants program (49 USC, Section 5311) helps people in rural areas access health care, shopping, education, employment and recreation. Currently, there are 38 operators providing public transportation in rural areas and small cities with populations under 50,000. Eligible Transit Providers Grant recipients include state agencies, local public bodies, private nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes and public transportation operators. Private for-profit transit operators may participate in the program through contracts with eligible recipients. In order to receive funds, a company must be in a rural transit district, which is a political subdivision containing multiple counties to provide rural public transportation. Funding Program funds may be used for capital, planning, operating and administrative costs, with a maximum federal funding ratio for capital, planning and administrative costs of 80 percent and a maximum state/local match of 20 percent on most projects. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Clean Air projects may receive up to 90 percent federal funding. The funding ratio for net operating costs is 50 percent federal match and 50 percent state/local match. Eligible recipients can apply for funds annually through our districts. Transit Roadeo Program The Transit Roadeo Program provides financial assistance to rural transit agencies conducting roadeos. Related Links |
| Intercity Bus All urban areas in Texas have intercity bus service (ICB), and many points are served in more remote areas. There are approximately 271 stops in Texas. Eligible Transit Providers Intercity service is provided for the general public and connects urban areas through fixed routes. Greyhound and Trailways are the most commonly known companies that provide this service. Funding The Rural program (49 USC, Section 5311) has 15 percent of its budget allocated to fund ICB, which is designed to strengthen the connection between rural areas and the larger regional or national intercity bus system. ICB also supports the system's infrastructure through planning, marketing assistance and capital investment in facilities and vehicles. ICB has previously funded projects such as the construction and rehabilitation of intermodal terminals and the upgrade of facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). |
| Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities The Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Public Transportation grants program (49 USC, Section 5310) provides funding to improve accessibility and mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities. Local stakeholder forums or committees plan and design the transportation services. Eligible Providers Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and local public entities serving rural (under 50,000 population) and small urban (population of less than 200,000) areas. Private taxi companies that provide shared-ride taxi service to the public or to special categories of users (such as seniors or individuals with disabilities) on a regular basis are also eligible recipients. Funding The funds are awarded directly to the provider and may be used for eligible capital and operating expenses. These include, but are not limited to:
Based on funding availability, federal funds may be used to defray up to 80 percent of the cost of eligible capital expenses and 50 percent of eligible operating expenses. Fund allocations are calculated using the latest county Census figures for the elderly and disabled population. Related Links
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| Planning and Research The Planning and Research grants programs (49 USC, sections 5303 and 5304) provide funds to metropolitan planning organizations for transit or highway planning and awards TxDOT monies for statewide transit planning and research. Funding Federal funds may be used to defray up to 80 percent of the cost of eligible expenditures. The local share is 20 percent for both Section 5303 and Section 5304. Section 5303 funds are administered in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration 112 planning funds through our Transportation Planning and Programming Division. The Public Transportation Division monitors transit activities and submits required reports to the Federal Transit Administration. |
| Small Urban Public Transportation The Small Urban Public Transportation federal grants program (49 USC, Section 5307) enhances mobility in urbanized areas. There are 30 urban operators providing transportation in areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000. Eligible Transit Providers Transit providers serving populations between 50,000 and 200,000 are eligible. McAllen and Arlington, both with populations over 200,000, are included because they are eligible for state funds. Funding Urban transit systems receive funding from a variety of sources, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 and 5309 grants, state grants, transit fares and local revenues such as advertising, contracts and city general revenue funds. Federal and state funds are available for capital, planning and operating costs. Capital funds can be spent on buses and bus facilities, fixed guide-way system projects, technology introductions and innovative techniques and methods. Planning funds are available for engineering design, evaluation of public transportation projects and other technical studies. Allowable operating expenses are limited to direct labor, materials and overhead expenses incurred by the transit operator. Program funds may be used for capital, planning, operating and administrative costs, with a maximum federal funding ratio for capital, planning and administrative costs of 80 percent and a maximum state/local match of 20 percent on most projects. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Clean Air projects may receive up to 90 percent federal funding. The funding ratio for net operating costs is 50 percent federal match and 50 percent state/local match. Funds are distributed by the FTA using a formula based on population and population density. In areas with populations over 200,000, grants are awarded directly to the local recipient. Grants for urban areas with populations under 200,000 may be made to the governor or to local recipients designated by the governor. Currently, cities apply directly to FTA. |
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