The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made available $8.75 million in Fiscal Year 2022 competitive grant funding to support transit services for Tribal communities and Alaska Native villages in rural areas.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law by President Joe Biden in November 2021, authorizes $45.8 million in competitive funding over five years for Tribal transit, an increase of nearly 83 percent.
"With this new transit funding, we will connect more Native Americans and Alaska Natives to opportunity, advance environmental justice and empower Tribal self-governance in transportation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Thanks to the president's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are dramatically increasing our support for transit projects on Tribal reservations and in Alaska Native villages."
FTA's Tribal Transit Program is authorized by Congress to support public transportation for federally-recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages, groups or communities. The funding helps Tribes to meet the needs of their citizens, including older adults, people with disabilities and youth in rural areas.
In support of the president’s Jan. 20, 2021, Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, FTA will prioritize projects that help improve air quality and further environmental justice.
"For residents of Tribal and Alaska Native lands, transit is a lifeline," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "This funding opportunity will improve public transportation connections to healthcare, jobs, education, and other resources in communities that have been historically underserved."
Applications will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, including how the project will improve the quality of life for the Tribe and surrounding communities. The application period will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on May 25, 2022.
