Public Transportation Innovation (20.530)
Public Transportation Innovation (Assistance Listing 20.530) is run by the Federal Transit Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $140 million in 112 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.2 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $450,000. Half of the 112 awards fell between $248,542 and $802,174, and they ranged from $9,191 to $11.8 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$140 million
- Grant awards112
- Typical award$450,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$15.7 million
- Size rank707 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants, direct payments for specified use, dissemination of technical information, training
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $40.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $15.7 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 707th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 79% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 40 states and territories.
What the program funds
This listing supports projects that advance public transportation through research, innovation, demonstration, and evaluation. Public Transportation Innovation projects follow a phased approach, where research outcomes inform subsequent innovation and deployment efforts. Research projects aim to develop and test new ideas, practices, and technologies that improve public transportation efficiency and effectiveness. Eligible research projects may focus on: improving service for seniors and individuals with disabilities; mobility and travel management systems; data and communication systems; system capacity including train control and performance management; capital and operating efficiencies; planning, forecasting, and modeling; vehicle design and technology advancements; asset maintenance and repair systems; construction and project management; alternative fuels; safety improvements; or other priorities identified by the Secretary to advance public transportation. Innovation and development projects build on successful research results to enhance public transportation nationwide. Eligible projects may involve the development of prior successful research, planning and forecasting modeling, capital and operating efficiencies, advanced vehicle design, technology advancements, system capacity improvements, or other areas deemed important to improve public transportation service delivery. Demonstration, deployment, and evaluation projects promote the early implementation of proven innovations and require comprehensive evaluation within two years. Eligible projects focus on deploying research and technology from Federal or private efforts to improve public transportation systems. Vehicle Component Testing Centers competitively select institutions of higher education to conduct testing, evaluation, and analysis of advanced vehicle components. Selected institutions must have the capacity for advanced component and vehicle evaluation, equipped laboratories, and access to facilities that emulate real-world conditions for component testing. Component testing is voluntary, but vehicles must meet applicable bus testing requirements. Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is administered in partnership with the National Academies of Science and governed by an independent board to recommend public transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities. New initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems to document and implement digital construction practices and expanded capabilities for component testing centers to research advanced vehicle technologies and fund related capital projects.
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
Federal Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, including Federal laboratories; State and local governmental entities; providers of public transportation; private or non-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and technical and community colleges.
What the money can and cannot pay for
There are multiple assistance opportunities within public transportation innovation – please see the objectives section for more details. Depending on the specific program, the eligibility of recipients, projects, and federal share may vary. A prohibition exists such that no grants can be made for the demonstration, deployment, or evaluation of a vehicle that is in revenue service unless the Secretary determines that the project makes significant technological advancements in the vehicle. To the extent FTA allocates the funding through a competitive notice of funding opportunity, FTA will specify eligibility and requirements in a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Government share of costs shall not exceed 80% except for Section 5312(h) which is 50% and Section 5312 (i) where there is no match require. Funding for TCRP is at 100%. Demonstration and deployment projects must have a comprehensive evaluation of the success of the funded project within 2 years after the date on which a project received assistance.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Title 49, Part Subtitle III of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, Subpart Section 5312,Public Law 49 U.S.C. Section 5312.Government Share of Costs. -- (1) In General.—The Government share of the cost of a project carried out under this section shall not exceed 80 percent. (2) Non-Government Share.—The non-Government share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may be derived from in-kind contributions. (3) Financial Benefit.—If the Secretary determines that there would be a clear and direct financial benefit to an entity under a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under this section, the Secretary shall establish a Government share of the costs of the project to be carried out under the grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement that is consistent with the benefit. Fees for low and no component testing activities within Section 5312(h) are equally split between the entity requesting testing and the Federal government - 50% is paid by FTA funds and the remaining 50 percent of testing fees shall be paid from amounts recovered by the testing center through the fees established and collected from the low and no component manufacturer requesting the testing services.Matching requirements for a specific project activity. Fees for low and no component testing activities within Section 5313(h) are equally split between the entity requesting testing and the Federal government.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
FY 2023: Range $100,000 to $5,000,000; and approximate Average of Financial Assistance: $1,400,000. FY 2024: Range: $140,000 to $5,000,000; and approximate Average of Financial Assistance: $1,400,000 FY 2025: No budget appropriated.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: FY 2016 projects will build upon accomplishments and in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, fund projects for Public Transportation Innovation which funds research; innovation and development; demonstrations, deployment and evaluation; assessing low and no emission vehicle components; and the Transit Cooperative Research Program. EXAMPLES OF 2016 FUNDED PROJECTS: • Mobility on Demand: Mobility on Demand (MOD) is a vision for a multimodal, integrated, and connected transportation system in which personal mobility is viewed as the objective. MOD enables the use of on-demand information, real-time data, and predictive analysis to efficiently utilize existing infrastructure and design constraints to provide individual travelers with transportation choices that serve their needs and their circumstances. Simply put, the goal is to move people efficiently and safely with as high quality of service as possible.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Public Transportation Innovation (20.530) awarded$140 million across 112 grant awards, an average of $1.2 million per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 37% of the money, colleges and universities 30% and state and local governments 14%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 12 | $51.1 million | 37% |
| Colleges and universities | 11 | $41.6 million | 30% |
| Other | 40 | $27.8 million | 20% |
| State and local governments | 48 | $19.3 million | 14% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $58,598 | less than 0.1% |
By state
16 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 8 | $33.6 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $20.2 million |
| Alabama | 3 | $14.1 million |
| California | 6 | $12.2 million |
| Georgia | 4 | $11.2 million |
| Minnesota | 4 | $8.2 million |
| New York | 4 | $5.1 million |
| Texas | 6 | $3.9 million |
| Maryland | 7 | $3.4 million |
| Illinois | 4 | $2.9 million |
| Connecticut | 2 | $2.4 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $2.4 million |
| Florida | 7 | $2.3 million |
| Guam | 1 | $2.0 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $1.7 million |
| Missouri | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Tennessee | 2 | $998,135 |
| New Jersey | 2 | $957,072 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $954,500 |
| Arizona | 3 | $922,829 |
| Delaware | 2 | $767,692 |
| Utah | 2 | $732,200 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $725,880 |
| Louisiana | 3 | $675,108 |
| Michigan | 2 | $674,875 |
| South Dakota | 2 | $667,536 |
| Nevada | 2 | $626,608 |
| Iowa | 2 | $570,000 |
| Vermont | 1 | $543,136 |
| Indiana | 2 | $522,638 |
| North Carolina | 3 | $426,073 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $422,625 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $409,073 |
| Washington | 1 | $372,910 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $282,118 |
| Virginia | 1 | $244,190 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $244,000 |
| Alaska | 1 | $231,191 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $170,000 |
| West Virginia | 1 | $38,640 |