The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for approximately $454.6 million in Fiscal Year 2020 competitive grant funding for transit bus projects. The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program is authorized to improve the condition of bus infrastructure by funding the replacement and rehabilitation of buses and related facilities.

Projects eligible for this funding opportunity include those that would replace, rehabilitate, lease, or purchase buses and related equipment. Other eligible projects involve purchasing, rehabilitating, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.

The NOFO also encourages applicants to demonstrate how their proposed projects are consistent with the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success and the Accelerating Innovative Mobility initiatives.

FTA will award the grants to eligible recipients, including fixed route bus operators, states, and local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service, and Indian tribes. Projects will be evaluated by criteria outlined in the NOFO. As required by law, the program allocates a minimum of 10% of its funding to rural bus needs.

Instructions for applying can be found on FTA’s website and GRANTS.GOV. Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV "APPLY" function by March 30, 2020.