This grant program information package contains information about financial assistance for public transportation that is
administered by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Information is provided for each of the
various categories of grants that are awarded each year and specifically, who can apply for the grants and what expenses
are eligible for each of the categories of financial assistance. The forms that must be completed in order to submit a grant
application and instructions for submitting the form(s) are available on OLGA.
The Public Transportation Division of DRPT administers and manages state and federal grant programs,
conducts performance evaluations, provides technical assistance and supports over 45 public transit systems, 50 human
service providers and 15 regional commuter assistance programs around the state.
The Public Transportation Division is composed of four sections: Urban Transit,
Rural Transit, Commuter Services
and Planning. These four sections work together on funding needs, major studies
and administration of both federal and state funds to improve the mobility, independence and quality of life of all Virginians.
The Urban Transit Section supports public transit services in Virginia's urban areas, including Richmond,
Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg and Hampton Roads.
This section manages the annual grant programs and represents the state on local and regional Metropolitan Planning
Organization committees, transportation commissions and advisory boards to transit agencies.
The Rural Transit Section supports public transit systems located primarily in rural Virginia. It covers
the rural and specialized transportation federal grant programs including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs 5309,
5310, 5311, and the JARC. Rural Transit also manages the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Civil Rights,
Drug/Alcohol programs, contracts, vehicle specifications, various training programs including Rural Training Assistance
Program and Technical Assistance Projects.
The following are state and federal financial assistance programs for public transportation administered by DRPT:
STATE AID GRANT PROGRAMS
State Aid Grant Program
Program Description
Eligible Recipients
Matching Ratios
Formula Assistance
Supports costs borne by eligible recipients for operating related public transportation expenses
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Up to 95% of eligible expenses
Capital Assistance
Supports costs borne by eligible recipients for public transportation capital projects
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Up to 95% of eligible expenses
TDM/Commuter Assistance
Supports administration of existing or new local and regional Transportation Demand Management or Commuter Assistance programs
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Planning District Commissions
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
Demonstration Project Assistance
Assists communities in preserving and revitalizing public or private public transportation service by implementing innovative projects for one year of operation
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Up to 95% of eligible expenses
Technical Assistance
Supports planning or technical assistance to help improve or initiate public transportation related services.
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Planning District Commissions
Up to 50% of eligible expenses
Intern Program
Supports increased awareness of public transportation as a career choice for aspiring managers
Supports reduction in demand for new/expanded transportation facilities that serve single
occupant vehicles and initiatives at the state, regional and community level that demonstrate innovative approaches to
reducing traffic congestion
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Planning District Commissions
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
FEDERAL AID GRANT PROGRAMS
Federal Aid Grant Program
Program Description
Eligible Recipients
Matching Ratios
FTA Section 5303
Supports transit planning expenses
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
FTA Section 5310
Supports the purchase of vehicles and equipment
Private non-profit operators of services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
FTA Section 5311
Supports operating and capital costs of transit operators in non-urbanized areas
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Private Non-profit Agencies
Up to 50% of net operating expenses and up to 80% of eligible capital expenses
FTA Section 5313(b)
Supports local and statewide transit planning projects.
Local and State Governments
Transportation District Commissions
Public Service Corporations
Planning District Commissions
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
FTA Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC)
Supports the operating and capital costs of special programs designed to connect unemployed people to jobs
Recipients of FTA Section 5311 and FTA Section 5307 Program funds
Up to 50% of eligible expenses
Federal Statewide Surface Transportation Program
Supports transit capital projects
Recipients of FTA Section 5311 and FTA Section 5307 Program funds
Up to 80% of eligible expenses
Qualification Details
Public service corporations are chartered for public use and benefit. To qualify as a public service corporation,
the corporation's Articles of Incorporation must expressly state that the corporation is to conduct business as a public service
company. Further, the corporation must have a valid Certificate of Incorporation issued by the State Corporation
Commission as a public service corporation pursuant to §13.1-50, Code of Virginia.
Prospective grant applicants who propose to engage in both public transportation services and human service agency client
transportation services are advised of the following DRPT guidelines:
Proposed New Public Transportation Services are considered reasonably successful in providing service to the general public if at least the
general public if the general public consumes at least 20% of all trips. This percentage shall be applied system-wide and not on a route by route basis.
General Public Riders are defined as those transit users who have no agency or client affiliation and for whom no other
source of transportation assistance is currently available.
Contract or Agency Riders are defined as transit users who are using the transportation system as a result of specific agency
affiliation and for whom there is some form of transportation assistance. Specific examples of contract riders are nutrition program clients,
mental health and mental retardation clients, Medicaid recipients, sheltered workshops, etc.
Ridership Mix is defined as the breakdown of a transit property's patronage by fare payment classification during the grant contract period.
At a minimum, this breakdown will be between public and contract/agency riders.
Recipients of State Aid funds are encouraged to coordinate their transportation services with other public transportation operators,
private-for-profit operators, and human service agencies located or operating within their service areas and they are encouraged to provide
transportation services to human service agencies under purchase of service contracts. The contract service is not public transportation and
State Aid funds shall not be used to support the direct operating costs of transportation services provided under purchase of service contracts
between the recipient and human service agencies.
All current and prospective State Aid applicants must understand the principal requirement related to this issue.
Fees that the grant recipient charges human service agencies for transportation services must be sufficient to recover all of the direct
operating costs of such services. This requirement sets a minimum fee to be charged that can be exceeded.
Timeline for Public Transportation Financial Assistance Grants
The following is a timeline generally followed by DRPT for State and Federal Aid for Public Transportation grant application announcements, reviews and approvals.
Early December
DRPT announces that funding is available and invites submission of applications.
Around February 1
Applications are due for all State Aid programs and FTA Section 5310 and 5311 programs.
March- April
DRPT evaluates applications and requests any additional needed information from applicants.
Late April
Applications are due for FTA Section 5303 funds.
April-May
DRPT completes evaluation of applications and develops a recommended annual Program of Projects.
June
Commonwealth Transportation Board meets and adopts Annual Program of Projects. DRPT notifies applicants of approved grants and funding levels.
July 1
Fiscal Year begins – contracts executed and payments initiated.
This grant program information package contains information about financial assistance for public transportation that is
administered by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Information is provided for each of the
various categories of grants that are awarded each year and specifically, who can apply for the grants and what expenses
are eligible for each of the categories of financial assistance. The forms that must be completed in order to submit a grant
application and instructions for submitting the form(s) are available on 