CFDA#
20.526
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Funder Type
Federal Government
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IT Classification
A - Primarily intended to fund technology
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Authority
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Summary
Grants under the Buses and Bus Facilities program are for capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, purchase, or lease buses and related equipment, or to rehabilitate, purchase, construct, or lease bus-related facilities. A single application may include both vehicle and facility components, along with associated equipment and workforce development activities. FTA will evaluate projects based on how they will address significant repair and maintenance needs and improve the safety of transit systems through timely and efficient investment in public transportation. FTA may prioritize projects that support FTA's strategic goals and objectives.
Recipients are permitted to use up to 0.5 percent of their requested grant award for workforce development activities eligible under Federal public transportation law and an additional 0.5 percent for costs associated with training at the National Transit Institute to pay not more than 80 percent of the cost of such activities. Applicants must identify the proposed use of funds for these activities in the project proposal and identify them separately in the project budget.
History of Funding
In FY 2022, the program received applications for 282 projects requesting a total of $3,682,203,133. Fifty projects were funded at a total of $551,366,311. Previously funded programs can be seen at https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fiscal-year-2021-buses-and-bus-facilities-projects.
Additional Information
Applicants are encouraged to identify scaled funding options in case insufficient funding is available to fund a project at the full requested amount. If an applicant indicates that a project is scalable, the applicant must provide an appropriate minimum funding amount that will fund an eligible project that achieves the objectives of the program and meets all relevant program requirements. The applicant must provide a clear explanation of how the project budget would be affected by a reduced award. FTA may award a lesser amount whether or not a scalable option is provided.
If an applicant is proposing to acquire autonomous vehicles or other innovative motor vehicle technology, the application should demonstrate that all vehicles will comply with applicable safety requirements, including those administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Specifically, the application should show that vehicles acquired will comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). If the vehicles may not comply, the application should either (1) show that the vehicles and their proposed operations are within the scope of an exemption or waiver that has already been granted by NHTSA, FMCSA, or both agencies or (2) directly address whether the acquisition will require exemptions or waivers from the FMVSS, FMCSR, or any other regulation and, if the acquisition will require exemptions or waivers, present a plan for obtaining them.
Eligibility Details
Eligible applicants for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program include designated recipients that allocate funds to fixed route bus operators, States (including territories and Washington DC) or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service, and Indian tribes.
Except for projects proposed by Indian Tribes, proposals for projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated State proposal. States and other eligible applicants may also submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas. Eligible sub recipients include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
Deadline Details
Applications are to be submitted by April 25, 2024. A similar deadline is anticipated annually.
Award Details
Up to $390 million is available in FY 2024. Of that amount, at least 15% ($58.5 million) will be set aside for rural projects. Award amounts vary based on scope and size of project. No single grant recipient will be awarded more than 10 percent of the amount made available. Cost sharing/matching of 20% is required, unless noted below by one of the exceptions:
- Cost sharing/matching of only 15% is required for the cost of acquiring vehicles that are compliant with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
- Cost sharing/matching of only 10% is required for the cost of acquiring, installing or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities that are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, or that are necessary to comply with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act.
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