The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released the FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program, also known as the Tribal Transit Program (TTP). The total funding available is $9.17 million, and the program aims to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas. Grants will be awarded competitively, with planning grants capped at $50,000. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages, as listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs.
There is no local match requirement for awarded projects, and all eligible activities are funded at 100% federal share. Eligible projects include the start-up, expansion, or replacement of transit services and facilities, and planning efforts for public transportation services. The FTA encourages tribes to identify scalable options for their proposals, which will allow for flexibility in funding amounts awarded. Applications are due by November 13, 2024, and must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
Evaluation criteria for capital and operating assistance projects include planning and local/regional prioritization, project readiness, demonstration of need, demonstration of benefits, and financial commitment. Planning projects will be rated based on long-term commitment, the need for the study, and the method for completing the study. Grant recipients will be required to submit annual reports, including a Federal Financial Report and a Milestone Progress Report, through FTA’s Transit Award Management System (TrAMS).
