Section 5311 (Rural Area Grants)
Forecasted
Section 5311 (Rural Area Grants) from the Tennessee Department of Transportation funds rural transit projects, supporting capital, operating, planning, and technical assistance in areas under 50,000 population.
Funder: Tennessee Department of Transportation
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (annual application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Formula-based; typical split: 80% federal, 10% state, 10% local for capital/planning/admin; 50% federal, 25% state, 25% local for operating; annual allocations vary.
Summary: Supports public transportation in rural Tennessee (areas under 50,000 population) through capital, operating, planning, and technical assistance grants.
Key Information: Only rural public transit providers or entities serving populations under 50,000 are eligible.
Description
The Section 5311 (Rural Area Grants) program, administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), provides federal funding to support public transportation in rural and non-urbanized areas of Tennessee with populations under 50,000. The program covers a range of activities, including state administration, planning, technical assistance, capital investments, operating assistance, and project administration. TDOT’s Office of Grants Administration oversees the application, award, and compliance processes, offering guidance and resources to subrecipients to ensure effective project delivery and adherence to all federal and state requirements.
