The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced in a press release today that approximately $8.9 million in funding is available for Tribal communities thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
"We are investing in transit serving Indian Lands and Alaska Native villages, which means that Tribal communities will be better connected to schools, jobs, food, health care, and other essentials," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The IIJA has increased competitive funding for the Tribal Transit Program by 83% for five years.
Each year, many Americans utilize Tribal Transit systems, traveling over 13 million miles.
FTA awarded funds to 25 American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities in 2022.
"Last year, I was pleased to meet with representatives from the Nez Perce and Coeur D’Alene Tribes to hear about the significance of this support for their transit systems," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "The stories they told echo across our nation. Everyone in our country wants an easier trip to the store, a quicker ride to work, or a more comfortable way to go visit their elders. Thanks to President Biden and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re going to provide better journeys to more people on Tribal lands."
Applications will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity including how the project will improve the quality of life for the Tribe and surrounding rural communities.
The application period will close on June 26, 2023.
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Source: USDOT
