National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP): Community Rides Grant Program (Limited Eligibility) - FY 2025
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Transportation |
|---|---|
| Office: | U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) Neponset Valley Transportation Management Association (TMA) |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | 08/29/2025 (Application) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | 07/02/2025 |
| Match Required: | Recommended |
| Match Type: | Unspecified |
| Actual Funds: | $500,000 (Estimated) |
| Award Range: | $25,000 (Min) / $100,000 (Max) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to develop or strengthen transportation partnerships and the capacity of rural transit programs. Successful projects will increase access to critical needs like employment, health care, education, healthy food, social services, or recreation; and will help to reduce transportation as a barrier to critical needs and services. The program will support projects that could be adapted nationwide, and projects will be shared nationally as promising practices.
Specifically, the program goals are to:
- Develop and strengthen partnerships between transit providers, community stakeholders, and/or other agencies to increase transit access and support the technical capacity in rural communities
- Fill gaps in service and reduce duplication to build transit services that are responsive to the needs and values of the community, in particular by serving populations affected by the opioid epidemic or other economic, social, or health challenges
- Increase access to non-transit funding sources available to fund transportation and enhance service economic viability
- Document strategies for partnering and responding to community mobility needs and share strategies and case studies nationally with rural transportation programs
All projects must be:
- Directly linked to the health of the community
- Scaled to the rural environment
- Innovative
- Replicable
- Financially viable
Projects may range from improving existing services by adding hours, days, or modes to starting an employment transportation program or a mobility management program. Other examples of project activities include:
- New or enhanced routes and supporting infrastructure to increase access to health care, treatment and recovery, employment, shopping, social services, or other health-supportive destinations
- Rural transportation management associations (TMAs) or employment vanpools
- Feeder routes for intercity/regional connectivity to increase access to jobs and medical care
- Improving transportation information and trip planning capacity to increase awareness of existing transit services and improve the ease-of-use for riders
- Implementing the RideSheet scheduling platform to support transit operations
- Consolidation of transit providers or operations to maintain/increase service capacity
- Efficient transit operational coordination and improved rider access across providers and modes through mobility management practices
Examples of project benefits may include increase in riders/ridership, new riders, increase in travel options, improved efficiency, more utilization of health care and addition treatment, and increased access to employment and employees.
Refer to pages 5-10 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding program objectives, goals, and other stipulations.
In addition to monetary awards, recipients will receive technical assistance, training, and other support.
Funds may be used for personnel costs, travel, consultant/contractor fees and travel, operating costs, capital costs other than vehicles, meeting/training costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs.
Optional informational webinars are scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for additional information.
Eligibility is limited to partnerships led by existing recipients or subrecipients under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program. Refer to the Eligibility section for additional information.
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are transportation partnerships that include existing recipients or subrecipients under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program. Additional information on this program can be found online at www.transit.dot.gov/rural-formula-grants-5311.
Applicants must serve as lead applicants and must have written agreements with one or more local partner organizations that demonstrate involvement in planning, funding, and implementation of the project. Local partners may include health care providers, recovery centers, health clinics, community organizations, chambers of commerce, community colleges, business centers/employer(s), and local transportation organizations. Successful applicants are also encouraged to work collaboratively to build partnerships and lasting improvements to public transit. Refer to pages 8-9 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding potential partnerships and collaborations.
Eligible Applicants:
ConsortiaNative American Tribe
State Government
Application Notes:
Applications will be accepted beginning on July 31, 2025, and must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 29, 2025.
Applications must be submitted online using the link that will be available at www.nationalrtap.org. Mailed, faxed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted.
Applications must include:
- Eligibility form
- Application form
- Budget form and narrative
- Local partner letter of commitment (1 letter min)
- Letter of authorization from the transit executive and/or governing board
- Letters of support (4 letters max; optional)
- Additional supporting information, such as excerpts of transportation plans (20 pages max)
Optional informational webinars for this program are scheduled as follows:
Program Overview and Transportation Partner Examples Webinar:
July 22, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: us06web.zoom.us
Project Development, Performance Measures, Cost Allocation Calculator, and Application Portal Overview Webinar:
July 31, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: us06web.zoom.us
Recordings of the webinars will be posted online at www.nationalrtap.org.
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Demonstration of need
- Demonstration of benefits and fulfillment of program goals and project objectives
- Direct link to community health, project scaled to the rural environment, innovativeness, replicability, and financial stability/life after the award
- Planning, partnerships, and community support
- Technical and organizational capacity of applicant
- Project readiness
Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.
| Match Required: | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Match Type: | Unspecified |
| Actual Funds: | $500,000 (Estimated) |
| Award Range: | $25,000 (Min) / $100,000 (Max) |
|---|
Match Notes:
Matching funds are not required for this program; however, applicants should identify any additional staff supports, including management, to be provided by them or partner agencies, as well as other costs they or partner agencies will cover.
Applicants may seek additional funding from other local, state, and federal agencies or national organizations focused on rural health and economic development, such as those listed on pages 8-9 of the NOFA file.
Furthermore, if additional sources of funding are essential to the success of projects, they must be identified, and documentation showing such funds may be used for projects must be provided.
The availability of local funding and secured outside funding will be taken into consideration during the application evaluation process.
Funding Notes:
An estimated $500,000 is available to support awards ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 through this program. In addition to monetary awards, the funding agency will provide award recipients with additional support and technical assistance, as detailed on page 10 of the NOFA file.
Funding will be provided on a monthly reimbursement basis.
Award announcements will be issued on or around October 24, 2025.
Project periods will span 12 months, beginning on January 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026. Within the first six months of the project period, applicants must be able to demonstrate the outcomes detailed on pages 9-10 of the NOFA file.
Funds may not be used for:
- Vehicle purchases
- Expenses for existing services
- Pre-award costs
- Supplanting funding for existing services
Contacts:
Al Benedict
Program Technology Tools Lead
grants@nationalrtap.org
Agency Address
National Rural Transportation Assistance Program
5 Wheeling Avenue
Woburn, MA 01801
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to Al Benedict, with the subject line "Community Rides Grant."
Applications must be submitted online using the link that will be available online at www.nationalrtap.org.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
NOFA File: US17282_NOFA_FY2025.pdf (479.5 Kb)Award File: US17282_Award_FY2025.pdf (188.0 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17282_Overview_FY2025.pdf (162.5 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Overview file contains general program information. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients. Additional information regarding previous award recipients, including a map, can be found online at www.nationalrtap.org.
Grant Keywords
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Community DevelopmentRural Issues
Human Services
Transportation