Federal grants to Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority in Chicago, Illinois received $5.2 billion in federal grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, across 44 awards. Its largest program was Federal Transit Formula Grants, with $2.4 billion. In fiscal 2025 it was awarded $1.7 billion.
From USAspending.gov award records, updated November 7, 2026.
- Grants, FY 2021 to 2025$5.2 billion
- Awards44
- Awarded in FY 2025$1.7 billion
- Largest award$1.1 billion
By year
| Fiscal year | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2021 | 13 | $842 million |
| FY 2022 | 8 | $1.7 billion |
| FY 2023 | 9 | $461 million |
| FY 2024 | 8 | $446 million |
| FY 2025 | 8 | $1.7 billion |
Programs that fund Chicago Transit Authority
| Program | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Transit Formula Grants | 15 | $2.4 billion |
| Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants | 4 | $1.5 billion |
| State of Good Repair Grants Program | 5 | $1.1 billion |
| Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs | 7 | $73.8 million |
| Rail and Transit Security Grant Program | 5 | $49.0 million |
| Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending | 1 | $12.6 million |
| Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous grants | 3 | $4.5 million |
| Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Public Transportation Innovation | 1 | $1.2 million |
Awarding agencies
| Agency | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | 36 | $5.1 billion |
| Department of Homeland Security | 5 | $49.0 million |
| Department of Housing and Urban Development | 3 | $4.5 million |
Largest awards
| Award | Program | First action | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application purpose: the purpose of this award is to provide funding to the project. This funding will provide the necessary assistance in meeting regional transportation needs. This project provides for greater choices and options regarding how to travel in and throughout the region thereby reducin | Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants | January 11, 2025 | $1.1 billion |
| This application is to request section 5307 american recovery plan (ARP) act funds apportioned to the chicago Illinois/Indiana urbanized area (UZA) in the amount of $912124980 as sub-allocated to the chicago transit authority (CTA) by the regional transportation authority (rta the uzas designated re | Federal Transit Formula Grants | February 8, 2022 | $912 million |
| Rpm modernization ffga 2016 | Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants | July 30, 2021 | $365 million |
| Coronavirus response and relief supplemental appropriations act of 2020 (CRRSAA) funding | Federal Transit Formula Grants | June 3, 2021 | $361 million |
| Application purpose: this award provides for the purchase of up to 14 new standard 40FT buses the purchase of up to 1 new railcar bus and rail revenue fleet overhaul engineering assessments and design plans for bus system electrification focusing on cta garages and maintenance facilities full design | State of Good Repair Grants Program | September 19, 2024 | $249 million |
| Application purpose: this award provides for the purchase of up to 67 new standard 40FT buses the purchase of up to 36 new rail cars bus and rail revenue fleet overhaul engineering assessments and design plans for bus system electrification focusing on cta garages and maintenance facilities full des | State of Good Repair Grants Program | September 25, 2023 | $246 million |
| Award executive summaryfta budget: $422724474THIS grant to the chicago transit authority (CTA) in chicago Illinois is for FY 2022 section 5337 funds in the amount of $242887136 section 5307 in the amount of $167175481 and section 5339 for $12661857 to support the implementation of capital projects d | State of Good Repair Grants Program | September 22, 2022 | $243 million |
| Application purpose: this award is designed to support a series of initiatives aimed at modernizing and improving ctas fleet and facilities as well as preparing the bus and rail systems for future upgrades. Key activities funded under this award include: purchase of up to 100 new standard clean dies | Federal Transit Formula Grants | August 22, 2025 | $219 million |
| Application purpose: this award is designed to support a series of initiatives aimed at modernizing and improving ctas fleet and facilities as well as preparing the bus and rail systems for future upgrades. Key activities funded under this award include: purchase of up to 100 new standard clean dies | State of Good Repair Grants Program | August 22, 2025 | $213 million |
| Application purpose: this award provides for the purchase of up to 67 new standard 40FT buses the purchase of up to 36 new rail cars bus and rail revenue fleet overhaul engineering assessments and design plans for bus system electrification focusing on cta garages and maintenance facilities full des | Federal Transit Formula Grants | September 25, 2023 | $171 million |
Questions people ask
How much federal grant money does Chicago Transit Authority get?
$5.2 billion in 44 grant awards from fiscal 2021 to 2025, as obligations reported to USAspending.gov.
Which agency gives Chicago Transit Authority the most?
The Department of Transportation, with $5.1 billion in 36 awards. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Housing and Urban Development follow.
What is Chicago Transit Authority's largest federal grant?
$1.1 billion under Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants, with its first action in the period on January 11, 2025. That counts only the money obligated in fiscal 2021 to 2025.
Which federal programs fund Chicago Transit Authority?
Its largest are Federal Transit Formula Grants, Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants and State of Good Repair Grants Program.
Other grant recipients in Chicago
- Northeast Illinois Railroad Co
- The University of Chicago
- University of Illinois
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Chicago Housing Authority
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- City of Chicago
- Century Aluminum Co
Largest federal grant recipients in Illinois · Federal grants in Illinois