Rural Public Transit Grant Program (Section 5311 and 5339)
Forecasted
Rural Public Transit Grant Program (Section 5311 and 5339) supports rural Arizona transit providers with operations, planning, buses, and facilities to improve access to jobs and essential services.
Funder: Arizona Department of Transportation
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2028 (application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $50,000–$2 million per award per year; two-year application cycle
Summary: Supports public transit operations, planning, and capital projects that address mobility needs in rural Arizona.
Key Information: Funded service must be open and marketed to the general public in areas with fewer than 50,000 people.
Description
The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Planning Division administers this competitive program using Federal Transit Administration funds. Section 5311 supports administration, operations, intercity bus service, planning, and capital costs for rural public transit. Section 5339 supports buses, equipment, and bus-related facilities for fixed-route bus services; ADOT may also award planning funds through Section 5305(e).
The program aims to improve rural access to employment, education, health care, shopping, public services, and recreation. It supports service within and among rural communities and connections to urbanized areas. ADOT expects transit providers to coordinate with human-service transportation and other local providers, and prioritizes preserving existing systems before expanding them or funding new ones.
