Underserved and disadvantaged communities in areas of chronic economic distress can now apply for federal funding to upgrade their transit systems, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is offering $20 million in competitive grant funding through its Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program, the DOT announced Jan. 9. The program "supports planning and technical studies to improve public transportation in areas experiencing long-term economic hardship, in rural and urban communities alike," the DOT states in the announcement.
"Transit is the great equalizer – particularly in rural areas, where having access to an affordable, reliable bus ride means people can get to their destinations, in a timely manner," FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said in the announcement. "FTA's Areas of Persistent Poverty Program ends isolation and opens doors to opportunity for those who do not have a car or cannot drive."
Projects in rural, tribal, and large and small urban areas are eligible for AoPP programs, but in order to be eligible, the projects must be in an Area of Persistent Poverty or a Historically Disadvantaged Community, the DOT states. Special consideration is given to projects that lessen environmental impact since many disadvantaged communities also have environmental challenges, according to the DOT.
"At a time when transportation is the second-largest household expense for most American families, it is more important than ever to ensure that everyone has access to affordable public transit," DOT Sec. Pete Buttigieg said in the report. "The new resources we are announcing today will make it easier for people in our most underserved communities to access jobs, school, healthcare, and other vital services."
