The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration today announced $9.6 million in grants to 26 American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities to improve their public transit systems in 14 states. The competitive grants through FTA’s Tribal Transit Program enable Tribes to buy transit vehicles, upgrade bus facilities, and expand or improve transit service. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes nearly $46 million in competitive funding over five years for the Tribal Transit Program, an increase of nearly 83%.
“Improving transportation options for Tribal residents ensures access to reliable, affordable ways to get around,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With the funding we’re announcing today, the Department is strengthening 26 tribal communities, helping residents get to jobs, educational opportunities, healthcare appointments and Tribal business.”
To improve the Tribal Transit competitive program and technical assistance offered to tribes, FTA engaged in a consultation process with tribal governments over the last two years. In response to input received, FTA streamlined and simplified the program application process, including reducing the word count by 50 percent and launching a webpage with explicit instructions about how to apply. The agency also broadened the type of Tribal projects eligible for federal support, including raising the cap on planning projects from $25,000 to $50,000, no longer limiting which eligible tribes can apply for operating assistance and not requiring a local match for any project funded through the Tribal Transit competitive program.
“As a result of the feedback we received from American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities, FTA made several changes to ensure everyone – even those running some of the nation’s smallest transit systems – could compete for federal funds to support these critical transportation services,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “From purchasing new buses to modernizing or building new facilities or developing transit plans, our federal support ensures Tribal residents have transportation available to them.”
FTA’s Tribal Transit Program supports public transportation for federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, groups, or communities. The funding is vital to help Tribes meet the needs of their citizens, including Elders, people with disabilities, and youth Indian Country. Federally supported projects in this round of grants range from helping tribal and village leaders buy transit vans to transitioning to greener vehicles, to upgrading scheduling and dispatch systems. Many of this year’s grants also provide significant support for regular Tribal transit operations.
Examples of projects selected to receive Fiscal Year 2024 funding include:
- The Ninilchik Village Tribe in Alaska will receive $509,038 to buy a new transit van to replace an aging vehicle and better support operations, allowing the Tribe to extend service from three days a week to five. The Tribe will close transportation gaps on the Kenai Peninsula, offering a convenient and affordable travel option for tribal residents and connecting them to essential services.
- The Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan will receive $180,000 to ensure continued transit services, which has seen a 150-percent growth in ridership since 2021. The funding will help its tribal members in rural Chippewa County maintain their access to jobs, healthcare and essential services for the community.
- The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe – White Earth Band will receive $80,000 to purchase a computer-aided scheduling dispatch system. The project will improve service and improve access for tribal residents to jobs, healthcare and essential services.
- The Walker River Paiute Tribe will receive $547,149 to support its Agai Dicutta Tribal Transit Service, which serves as a vital link for tribal members living in three counties in rural midwestern Nevada. The project will ensure community members have access to education, health care and economic opportunities.
FTA received 38 eligible project proposals requesting $17.5 million from Tribes and Alaska Native Village applicants in response to the Notice of Funding Opportunity.