The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued Thursday a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $16.3 million in competitive grant funding for projects that will help transit initiatives in underserved communities.
The FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program assists with planning, engineering, and technical studies or financial planning as a means of improving transit services in any areas experiencing long-term economic distress – rural and urban communities.
“Public transit makes life better in any community, but it is particularly important in areas where Americans are facing the effects of poverty and low wealth,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “The funds we are announcing today will help connect more people to jobs, opportunities, and services.”
The FTA indicated it is encouraging applicants to collaborate with nonprofit organizations willing to integrate low- or no-emission fleets into their projects to help achieve Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental quality goals.
“This program will support local strategies to help remove barriers to opportunity and increase equity in underserved communities,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said. “We want to ensure that transportation connects people to people, people to jobs and school, and people to all kinds of opportunities.”