Grants and funding opportunities

DOT offering grants for public transportation systems

The N.C. Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division is seeking applications from eligible organizations for the Fiscal Year 2013 Federal Sections 5310, 5316 and 5317 grant program.

The program, also called the Targeted Transit Assistance Program, consists of three federally-funded transportation programs intended to address the transportation needs of specific populations. A total of $15.6 million is available through the below programs:

Section 5310 – Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program – Provides funding for transportation services that meet the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities who do not have mass transportation services available to them, or the services are insufficient or inappropriate for their needs. A total of $6.9 million is available through this program;

Section 5316 – Job Access and Reverse Commute Program – Provides funding to go towards improving access to transportation services for low-income individuals for employment and related activities, and to transport residents of urban and non-urban areas to suburban employment centers. A total of $2.7 million is available for non-urban areas and $1.6 million is available for small urban areas through this program; and

Section 5317 – New Freedom Program – Provides funding for new services and facility improvements to address the transportation needs of people with disabilities that go beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. A total of $2.8 million is available for non-urban areas and $1.6 million is available for small urban areas through this program.

Private non-profit organizations, operators of public transportation services including private operators of public transportation services, and local government authorities are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply for TTAP funding is Jan. 27, 2012. Application packets and detailed information regarding TTAP requirements are available on the NCDOT Public Transportation Division website under “Grant and Program News” at www.ncdot.gov/nctransit.