FTA Announces $20M for Improved Access to Transit 

FTA WILL AWARD $20 MILLION through its Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program [www.transit.dot.gov/grant-programs/areas-persistent-poverty-program] to 47 communities to help improve public transportation in areas experiencing long-term economic distress, one of the many ways the Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the U.S. by creating jobs and opportunity through infrastructure investment. AoPP provides support to state and local governments, transit agencies and nonprofit organizations to create better transit for residents with limited or no transportation options. 

“Across the country, people who live in low-income rural, urban and Tribal communities are less likely to own a car and more likely to rely on public transit,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through this program, we are bringing affordable, accessible public transit to the very communities that need it the most, making it possible for more people to access jobs, resources and opportunity.” 

Investments from the AoPP program can be used to support efforts to initiate transit service as well as improve service and modernize fleets, from procuring low-and no-emission buses, to launching scheduling apps and improving bus stops. They also deliver on commitments to invest in projects that benefit communities with environmental justice concerns.

“Transit is the great equalizer, providing rides for those who do not have a car or cannot drive, and particularly in rural and Tribal areas, having access to an affordable, reliable bus ride can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program is about forging connections for people who need accessible transit the most.” 

The grants are specifically awarded for studies to improve transit in census-defined low-income areas. The program also supports coordinated human service transportation planning to improve mobility and access or provide new services, including paratransit. 

Read about the projects at bit.ly/3Q1nJk9.