U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the availability of $7.6 billion in annual funding for states, local communities and transit agencies nationwide to help maintain bus and transit rail operations in rural areas and provide for capital construction and maintenance projects.

"The Obama Administration is connecting people with the places they need to go and providing them with energy efficient alternatives," said LaHood. "These critical dollars will help smaller cities and rural communities that rely heavily on federal investments to keep their transit systems running."

Transit providers, including state and local governments and transit agencies, apply for these annual funds in the form of federal grants for infrastructure projects, such as the construction or repair of transit buildings — including bus and rail stations and track repair — or the purchase, rebuilding or refurbishing of transit vehicles.

Each year the Federal Transit Administration publishes one or more notices that show how the Congressional dollars for transit is distributed among urbanized and non-urbanized areas throughout the country.

To view the complete FY2011 Apportionment Notice, click here.