Federal grant programs / Department of Transportation

Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program (20.509)

Also known as Section 5311

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$6.3 billion
• Grant awards1,361
• Typical award$443,618
• Awarded in FY 2025$1.2 billion
• Size rank79 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding fell from $1.6 billion in fiscal 2021 to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 79th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 62% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 54 states and territories.

What the program funds

The Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations less than 50,000. The Tribal Transit Formula and Competitive Programs provide funding to federally recognized tribes for capital, operating, planning, and administrative expenses in rural tribal communities.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Funds for the Rural Area and Tribal Transit Formula Programs are apportioned directly to the State Department of Transportation or Tribe. The Tribal Transit Competitive Program funds are distributed through a competitive process. State Departments of Transportation may allocate their Rural Area Formula funds to their chosen sub-recipients which may include other State agencies, local government organizations, nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, and operators of public transportation services, including intercity bus service, in rural areas. Private for-profit operators of transit or paratransit services may participate in the program only through contracts with eligible recipients. Private intercity bus operators may participate as subrecipients or through contracts. Urbanized areas, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, are not eligible. For the Tribal Transit Formula Program the only eligible applicants include are recognized Indian tribes. For the Tribal Transit Competitive Program, eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. Additionally, applicants must be located and provide service in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Section 5311 funds may be used for eligible planning, capital, and operating expenses to provide efficient and coordinated public transportation service in non-urbanized areas. States may use up to 10 percent of the annual apportionment for planning and program administration. Job Access and Reverse Commute projects are also eligible under the program. Fifteen percent of the State's annual apportionment must be spent to support rural intercity bus transportation, unless the governor certifies that such needs are adequately met. Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) funds may be used for technical assistance, training, research, and related support services. States may use up to 10 per cent of the annual apportionment for planning and program administration. Projects must provide for the maximum feasible coordination of public transportation sources assisted under this section with transportation services assisted by other Federal sources, and must provide for the maximum feasible participation of private operators. Fifteen percent of the State's annual apportionment must be spent to support rural intercity bus transportation, unless the governor certifies that such needs are adequately met. Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) funds may be used for technical assistance, training, research, and related support services.;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 49, Part 5311, Subpart 58,Public Law 117.For the Public Transportation on Indian Reservation Program, no local match is required for the formula program. For the discretionary program, follow the requirements outlined in the corresponding NOFO.The program operates under the statutory formula prescribed in 49 USC 5335. The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital projects. 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 or 85 percent for the cost of a vehicle that complies with these requirements. The federal share may also be 90 percent for projects or portions of projects related to bicycle facilities. The federal share may not exceed 50 percent of the net cost for operating assistance. Recipients may use up to 20 percent of the amounts apportioned under Section 5311 for ADA complementary paratransit at an 80 percent federal share if certain conditions are met.This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. This program has MOE requirements; see funding agency for further details.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Award range and average, in the agency's words

For FY 2023, the average award for a formula grant received under the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program was $747,417 ranging from $1,283 to $1,493,552. Competitive grant program selections were announced in October 2022 and the average award was $812, 085 with a range from $16,185 to $1,607,986. In 2021, the average award under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas was approximately $24,194,874, ranging from approximately $349,046 to $48,040,703. In FY24, under TTP grants range from $1,973 to $1.5 million.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2016: The Formula Grants for Rural Areas projects will continue to support capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program. The Formula Grants for Rural Areas projects supported capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often relied on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provided funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program. Fiscal Year2018: The Formula Grants for Rural Areas projects support capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 95% of the money, tribes 4.8% and nonprofits 0.2%.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.