Bus Testing (20.529)
Bus Testing (Assistance Listing 20.529) is run by the Federal Transit Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $29.7 million in 8 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $3.7 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $4.0 million. Half of the 8 awards fell between $2.0 million and $5.1 million, and they ranged from $2.0 million to $5.3 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$29.7 million
- Grant awards8
- Typical award$4.0 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$12.6 million
- Size rank1,189 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $3.0 million in fiscal 2021 to $12.6 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1189th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 1 states and territories.
What the program funds
The purpose of the program is to provide assistance for testing new transit bus models and reporting on their maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise performance characteristics. Per 49 U.S.C Section 5318(e), amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this chapter may be obligated or expended to acquire a new bus model only if that model is tested at the Bus Testing Facility and the bus achieved a passing test score based upon the performance standards for maintainability, reliability, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, noise, and safety. The program is administered under FTA’s implementing regulation at 49 CFR Part 665, commonly referred to as the Bus Testing Regulation.
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
Manufacturers (OEMs) can submit bus models for testing. FTA’s Bus Testing Program explicitly supports transit vehicle manufacturers.
What the money can and cannot pay for
FTA funds 80 percent of the costs associated with testing a vehicle at the facility from amounts available to carry out this section. The entity having the vehicle tested shall pay 20 percent of the cost. The funding can only be used for the operation and maintenance of facilities capable of testing new transit bus models and reporting on their maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise performance characteristics under 49 U.S.C Section 5318 The funding can only be used for the operation and maintenance of facilities capable of testing new transit bus models and reporting on their maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise performance characteristics under 49 U.S.C Section 5318.;
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 49 U.S.C., Part Subtitle?III — General & Intermodal Programs, Subpart 49 C.F.R. Part?66 Subpart B — Bus Testing Procedures,Public Law Public Law?117?58, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),.This program has no matching requirement, but does require sharing the cost of vehicle testing. The entity operating and maintaining the facility shall establish and collect fees for the testing of vehicles at the facility. The Secretary must approve the fees. The operator of the facility shall collect 20% of the cost of testing a bus from the entity having the vehicle tested. The remaining 80% of the cost shall be paid with provided Federal funds.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Oct 12, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Award range and average, in the agency's words
FY 2023: $5,104,455 FY 2024: $5,237,739 FY 2025: $5,345,938
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: The standardized testing of new transit bus models is being performed with the awarded program funds. The standardized testing of new transit bus models is being performed with the awarded program funds. Fiscal Year2017: The Bus Testing Facility implemented the new program requirements outlined in the new Bus Testing Pass/Fail rulemaking. The demand for testing services is expected to remain strong with additional zero-emission bus models expected to enter the marketplace. Also, FTA is developing a standardized test request form that will be made available on the FTA external site. This form will incorporate comments from OMB and stakeholders during the previous information collection request.Fiscal Year2018: The Bus Testing Center tested new bus models and previously-tested models being produced with major changes and issue full and partial Bus Testing Reports.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Bus Testing (20.529) awarded $29.7 million across 8 grant awards, an average of $3.7 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania | 8 | $29.7 million |
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 90% of the money.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 7 | $26.7 million | 90% |
| Other | 1 | $3.0 million | 10% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 8 | $29.7 million |