USDOT announces research funding to improve Americans’ access to transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a $6 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to help improve Americans’ access to affordable transportation, especially in areas that currently lack efficient and convenient transit options.

“Transit can be a great equaliser, but for many Americans, such options are limited or simply don’t exist,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This new programme will help eliminate barriers to affordable transportation and improve access to jobs, school, healthcare, friends and family – all of the ingredients for a good quality of life.”

Under the newly created Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Program, the selected organisation will partner with FTA to establish a research and demonstration programme to improve access to affordable transportation options for everyday destinations. FTA plans to share findings with the public so research organisations, transit agencies and others can learn from and expand upon the insights developed from the FTA-funded research.

USDOT announces first-ever Reconnecting Communities grant programme

In support of the DOT Strategic Plan and recently released Equity Action Plan, the Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Program will address several Biden-Harris Administration priorities, including:

• Investing in American infrastructure and communities
• Making transportation safer
• Reducing transportation costs in household budgets
• Making the nation’s transportation systems more equitable
• Building more resilient and sustainable transport systems to benefit and protect communities
• Investing in research and innovation.

FTA will work with one organisation as programme lead to develop and implement demonstrations that will support public transportation in order to increase access to transport and evaluate outcomes and effectiveness.