Transit Federal Discretionary Grants  

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  • Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning

    ​The Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps support FTA’s mission of improving public transportation for America’s communities by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment.

    -FTA Website Description

    FTA Grant Link​​​

     "Connecting Rural and Urban Triangle Communities Through Equitable Transit Oriented Development​" (2020 FTA TOD Planning Grant Submittal)

    On December 15th, 2020, the FTA awarded NCDOT $900,000 to plan for TOD at 13 stations along a proposed passenger rail corridor between Sanford and Henderson, connecting rural and urban communities in the Triangle region.​

  • Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (5339(b)

    ​The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants. 

    -FTA Website Description

    FTA Grant Link

    "North Carolina Combined Statewide Application" (2019 FTA 5339(b) Grant Submittal)

    ​On November ​26th, 2019, the FTA awarded NCDOT-IMD ​$17,275,000 in funding on behalf of several rural transit systems, will receive funding to replace vehicles, as well as construct and renovate public transportation facilities throughout the state. These projects will address safety, state of good repair and critical transit needs throughout the state. 

    Included in this award are the following projects:

    • Anson County Transportation System Facility Replacement
    • Johnston County Transportation System Facility Replacement
    • Iredell County Transportation System Facility Replacement
    • Hoke County Transportation System Facility Replacement
    • Duplin County Transportation System Facility Replacement
    • Orange County 3 Electric Buses & Charging Station
    • Macon County Transportation - Building Addition​​


  • Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM)

    ​Under the AIM Initiative to support and advance innovation in the transit industry. AIM challenge grants will help transit agencies explore new service models that provide more efficient and frequent service, which will help retain riders. As a funding partner, FTA will help alleviate the potential risks involved in adopting new technologies and practices.

    -FTA Website Description​

    FTA Grant Link

    "Transforming Public Transit in Wilson with Rural On-Demand Microtransit"  (2020 ​Accelerating Innovative MobilityGrant Submittal)

    ​On August 27th, 2020, the FTA awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation ​​$250,000 in funding to assist the City of Wilson in rural central North Carolina to replace its fixed-route transit service with on-demand, rural microtransit to provide more targeted service and solve first/last mile connections. The microtransit system will include accessible vehicles, phone booking and lower fares.


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  • Mobility For All

    ​This funding opportunity seeks to improve mobility options through employing innovative coordination of transportation strategies and building partnerships to enhance mobility and access to vital community services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people of low income. As required by federal transit law, funds will be awarded competitively to finance innovative capital projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services.

    -FTA Website Description

    FTA Grant Link​

    "Technology & Transportation Partnership to Improve Rural Service for Underserved Populations Pilot" (2020 FTA Mobility for All Grant Submittal) 

    On June 5th, 2020, the FTA awarded partners NCDOT-IMD, the Inter-County Public Transportation Authority (ICPTA) and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) $280,000 to fund trip scheduling software that will create a more efficient point of entry to connect underserved populations, including people seeking substance abuse treatment, with transportation services in rural northeastern North Carolina.


  • H.O.P.E

    Rural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our national economic vitality. In keeping with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s focus on addressing the deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates on our rural transportation infrastructure, FTA’s Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program supports projects that will address the transportation challenges faced by areas of persistent poverty.

    HOPE supports planning, engineering and technical studies or financial planning to improve transit services in areas experiencing long-term economic distress.  It will also support coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services such as rides to opioid abuse recovery and treatment.

    An area of persistent poverty is a county with 20% or more of the population living in poverty over the 30 years preceding the date of enactment of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, or December 20, 2019, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial census and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.

    -FTA Website Description

    FTA Grant Link

    "Mountains to Sea: Electrifying North Carolina's Transit Fleets" (2020 FTA H.O.P.E. Grant Submittal)

    On October 7th, 2020, the FTA awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation $122,048 in funding to work with two transit systems near Boone in rural eastern North Carolina to plan to deploy zero-emission buses. The plans will provide the basis for other rural agencies in the state to draft transition plans for new-technology buses, allowing them to benefit from economic benefits, such as lower fuel and maintenance costs.

    Supplemental Form​



  • Integrated Mobility Innovation Demonstration

    ​FTA's Integrated Mobility Innovation (IMI) Program funds projects that demonstrate innovative and effective practices, partnerships and technologies to enhance public transportation effectiveness, increase efficiency, expand quality, promote safety and improve the traveler experience.​

    ​-FTA Websi​te Description

    FTA Grant Link



  • Innovations in Transit Public Safety (Human Trafficking)

    Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, with nearly 25 million victims worldwide, including in the United States. Traffickers use all modes of transportation to conduct their activities and often use public transit because it is low cost, offers greater anonymity in buying fare cards, and provides less direct interaction with government or transit officials.

    FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative is a public safety initiative that supports the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative through transit-focused industry engagement, education, public awareness and outreach, and research and technical assistance to combat human trafficking in transit.  In addition, the program supports FTA’s operator assault and crime prevention efforts. The initiative aims to maximize the transit industry’s collective impact to address human trafficking and other public safety concerns.

    ​-FTA Website Description

    ​FTA Grant Link

    "Combating Human Trafficking in North Carolina through Bus Operator Training and Public Awareness" (2020 FTA Innovations in Transit Public Safety Grant Submittal)

    On January 28th, 2020, the FTA awarded t​he North Carolina Department of Transportation $120,000 in funding to implement a training program for transit employees across the state on how to recognize and respond to the signs of human trafficking. The department also will develop human trafficking awareness educational materials to be posted on transit vehicles and stations.


  • Low or No Emission Vehicle Program - 5339(c)

    ​The main purpose of the Low-No Program is to support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Additionally, 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 (49 U.S.C. 5314(b)) and an additional 0.5 percent for costs associated with training at the National Transit Institute.

    ​-FTA Website Description

    FTA Grant Link​

    Plans related to these goals in the state of North Caroina are as follows:



  • Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program

    The COVID-19 public health emergency has had a significant impact on transit operations. During a series of FTA listening sessions held over the last three months, transit agencies asked FTA to support research to identify solutions to address the operational challenges that they are facing as a result of COVID-19. In response, FTA announced a new $10 million FY2020 Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program.

    The program supports research demonstration grants to public transit agencies to develop, deploy, and demonstrate innovative solutions that improve the operational efficiency as well as enhance the mobility of transit users affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

    -FTA Website Description

    ​FTA Grant Link
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