The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that it will award $20 million to help improve public transportation options in areas experiencing long-term economic distress.
Public Transit Projects Benefiting Tribal Communities
Among the grants going to 47 communities, four tribes and organizations serving Native Americans will receive funding.
- The Bristol Bay Native Association will receive funding to plan public transportation service along the Nushagak River in southwestern Alaska. The plan will assess how transit can better connect people in Dillingham and Aleknagik to jobs and opportunities. Bristol Bay Native Association will particularly examine help for older adults, people with disabilities and those with low incomes in the Bristol Bay region. The award amount is $54,300.
- The Yavapai-Apache Nation will receive funding to design and expand its bus system. Generally, the goal is to serve a larger area of Yavapai County in rural central Arizona. The plan will include design and engineering for a new, larger maintenance facility, and details for growing transit’s reach with new routes. As a result, the new routes are expected to provide better access to jobs, health care, and other tribal communities. The award amount is $125,000.
- The Cherokee Nation will receive funding to update its long-range transit plan. This plan will guide the construction and deployment of future tribal transit projects. Additionally, the Nation will include an electric vehicle infrastructure assessment, and a technology assessment designed to increase user access for the Nation’s 450,000 tribal citizens. The award amount is $576,188.
- The Coordinated Community Transportation Systems, (River Cities Public Transit) will receive funding to develop a transit plan that would serve Native American reservations in South Dakota. Specifically, the award will improve efficiency and meet the needs of people who lack access to employment, public services, education, and healthcare facilities. River Cities Public Transition is a private, nonprofit organization. The award amount is $527,520.
About the Program Supporting the Projects
These awards are being made under FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program. Generally, the AoPP program supports state and local governments, transit agencies, and nonprofit organizations. More specifically, this program seeks to create better transit for residents with limited or no transportation options.
“Across the country, people who live in low-income rural, urban, and Tribal communities are less likely to own a car and more likely to rely on public transit,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through this program, we are bringing affordable, accessible public transit to the very communities that need it the most, making it possible for more people to access jobs, resources, and opportunity.”
Since grant recipients can use investments for multiple types of priorities, the range of projects is diverse. For example, projects can include efforts to initiate transit service as well as improve service and modernize fleets. Further, modernization can range from procuring low- and no-emission buses, to launching scheduling apps and improving bus stops. The program also benefits communities with environmental justice concerns.
“Transit is the great equalizer, providing rides for those who do not have a car or cannot drive, and particularly in rural and Tribal areas, having access to an affordable, reliable bus ride can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program is about forging connections for people who need accessible transit the most.”
FTA received applications totaling close to $36 million in funding requests. Projects were selected based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Learn More
To learn more about this program, visit FTA’s website.
