Federal grant programs / Department of Transportation

Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (20.513)

Also known as Section 5310 Program

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$2.1 billion
• Grant awards1,207
• Typical award$509,715
• Awarded in FY 2025$446 million
• Size rank160 of 1824
• Type of assistanceFormula grants, project grants (discretionary)

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $382 million in fiscal 2021 to $446 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 160th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 57% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 56 states and territories.

What the program funds

To provide financial assistance in meeting the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities where public transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate. The Section 5310 program is designed to supplement FTA's other capital assistance programs by funding transportation projects for seniors and individuals with disabilities in all areas - large urban, small urban, and rural. Upon repeal of the New Freedom Program, its goals were incorporated into the Section 5310 program, which funds alternative forms of transportation where traditional services are unavailable, inappropriate, or insufficient. Funds can be used for capital and operations activities. The discretionary program assists in financing innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services. In August 2025, this AL was split into two separate programs with specific AL's, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities 20.536 and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Grants – 20.537. The new listings will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.”

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

Eligible sub-recipients include private nonprofit organizations, public bodies approved by the State to coordinate services for seniors and individuals with disabilities and public bodies which certify that no nonprofit organizations or associations are readily available in an area to provide the service.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Section 5310 funding may be used for eligible capital or operating expenses needed to provide specialized transportation service for older adults and persons with disabilities. Up to 10 percent of funds apportioned to a recipient may be used to administer, plan, and provide technical assistance for projects funded under the program. Projects must provide for the maximum feasible coordination of transportation services funded under this section. A minimum of 55 percent of funds must be used for capital projects as listed in Federal Circular 9070.1H. The remaining 45 percent may be used for other capital or operating projects. A minimum of 55 percent of funds must be used for capital projects as listed in Federal Circular 9070.1H. The remaining 45 percent may be used for other capital or operating projects. Funding under the discretionary category may be used for capital projects that demonstrate innovation in coordination of human services transportation and non-emergency medical trips (NEMT).;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 49, Part Chapter 53, Subpart Part III - Intermodal Programs,Public Law 117.58.Statutory Formula: Title 49 Chapter 5310 Part Subpart Public Law Formula apportionments are made annually. Sixty percent of funds are apportioned among designated recipients for large urbanized areas (population of 200,000 or more); twenty percent of funds are apportioned to states for small urbanized areas (urbanized areas with less than 200,000 population); and twenty percent of funds are apportioned to states for use in rural areas. The apportionment formula is based on the number of seniors and individuals with disabilities in each urbanized or rural area. Matching Requirements: Percent: 80 Section 5310 funds may be used to finance capital and operating expenses. The federal share of eligible capital costs may not exceed 80 percent of the net cost of the activity. The federal share of the eligible operating costs may not exceed 50 percent of the net operating costs of the activity. Recipients may use up to 10 percent of their apportionment to support program administrative costs including administration, planning, and technical assistance, which may be funded at 100 percent federal share. Funds for this program are allocated among the States and large urbanized areas by a formula which is based on the population of elderly persons and persons with disabilities in each State according to the latest U.S. Census population figures.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Deadlines

Deadlines do not apply

Award range and average, in the agency's words

In Fiscal Year 2023, the average award to large urbanized areas under the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program was $1,428,971 and ranged from $64,333 to $22,925,584. The average award to small l urbanized areas was $1,676,558 and ranged from $120,958 to $8,464,445. The average award to nonurbanized areas was $1,579,359 and ranged from $13,502 to $5,804,602.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2016: Purchase of accessible vehicles; replacement of rolling stock; mobility management programs; travel training; vehicle wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices; transit related information and technology systems; and dispatch systems. Purchase of accessible vehicles; replacement of rolling stock; mobility management programs; travel training; vehicle wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices; transit related information and technology systems; and dispatch systems. Fiscal Year2017: Purchase of accessible vehicles; replacement of rolling stock; mobility management programs; travel training; vehicle wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices; transit related information and technology systems; and dispatch systems. Fiscal Year2018: Purchase of accessible vehicles; replacement of rolling stock; mobility management programs; travel training; vehicle wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices; transit related information and technology systems; and dispatch systems. Fiscal Year2020: On June 5, 2020 the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $3.5 million in grants for 17 projects in 16 states to improve mobility and access to public transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and individuals of low income.

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 82% of the money, nonprofits less than 0.1% and tribes less than 0.1%.

By state

52 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

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