Transit Ready NY Grant Program

The Transit Ready NY program, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), offers up to $121 million in funding to support transformative capital investments in public transportation across the state of New York. This initiative provides 100 percent state-funded support to counties, cities, and regional transportation authorities that operate transit systems. It is specifically designed to upgrade, modernize, and enhance public transit infrastructure and services. This funding opportunity is distinct from, and not a continuation of, the state's Modernization and Enhancement Program (MEP); it is instead a standalone competitive solicitation intended to stimulate large-scale, impactful projects throughout the state’s transit ecosystem. Eligible applicants include designated recipients of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Sections 5307 and 5311 programs as well as non-designated Section 5311 recipients. Applicants must also be certified as a Pro-Housing Community, in line with New York State Executive Order 30. Notably, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, private intercity bus carriers, and municipalities not certified under the Pro-Housing Community program are explicitly ineligible. All proposed projects must have a minimum useful life of ten years and align with FTA-eligible capital activities, excluding preventative maintenance. Allowable activities include facility construction or upgrades, acquisition of revenue vehicles, new technology deployment, transit signal priority infrastructure, pedestrian enhancements to access transit, mobility hubs, and other infrastructure that supports micromobility and integration with other transit modes. Funding awards will vary by applicant type. Large Urban applicants may request between $5 million and $16 million, with at least $70 million allocated to this group. Small Urban applicants may request between $1.5 million and $6 million, with at least $25 million available. Rural applicants are eligible for funding between $500,000 and $2.5 million, with at least $10 million set aside for this group. While matching funds are not required, proposals that leverage non-state sources will receive a more favorable evaluation score. This includes demonstrated financial commitments from federal sources or regional partnerships. Applicants must also demonstrate that Transit Ready NY funding will not supplant existing required match sources and that awarded funds will be obligated within three years of notification. Each application must include a detailed narrative and a completed Excel budget workbook. The narrative must describe the applicant’s organization, project scope, budget and cost estimates, timeline, and justification for the need. It should also explain how the project addresses implementation readiness, organizational capacity, scalability, and how it supports one or more of the program’s statewide strategic objectives, which include regionalization of transit services, fleet emission reductions, operational efficiency, and system productivity improvements. Applications must also indicate whether and how the project leverages additional non-state funds and summarize any past MEP or ATC funding history as applicable. Evaluation will follow a 100-point scoring rubric that weighs project need, strategic alignment, and financial rationale. Applications are due no later than Thursday, May 21, 2026, and must be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Questions may be directed to the same email address and must be submitted by Friday, March 27, 2026. Responses will be shared with all potential applicants via the Applicant Notice List and through the FAQ updates. Two informational webinars are planned to occur during the weeks of February 23 and March 2, 2026. All applicants must also hold a New York Statewide Financial System (SFS) vendor ID and meet all federal and state compliance requirements. Additional requirements prohibit the use of program funds for operating costs, lease payments, equipment or assets with less than a ten-year useful life, and previously funded MEP projects. Applications may be subject to partial funding based on need, availability, and geographic balance considerations. Awarded applicants must demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the full project scope or delivering partial components if full funding is not secured. All submissions will be reviewed competitively, and NYSDOT reserves the right to retract awards if any leveraged funding fails to materialize.

Leverage non-state funds to improve scoring; projects must meet 10-year life minimum and show readiness.