The Federal Transit Administration is making $6.2 million in grants available to support “comprehensive planning” efforts aimed at improving access to public transit. The application period for those grants closes on October 26.
[Above photo by the MBTA.]
Those grants – provided through FTA’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development or TOD Planning program – aim to boost ridership, transit access, plus economic and mixed-use development near public transportation projects. Examples of eligible projects include comprehensive planning studies around station areas for new fixed guideway projects, such as light-rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, or bus rapid transit systems that have a designated right-of-way.

“Safe and convenient access to public transportation for all is a priority,” noted K. Jane Williams, FTA’s deputy director, in a statement. “This program is an excellent opportunity for communities to incorporate transit projects in their economic development planning.”
The agency noted that, in order to apply for these TOD grants, an applicant must be an FTA grantee – either a project sponsor of an eligible transit project or an entity with land use planning authority in the project corridor. To ensure that work meets the needs of the local community, transit project sponsors and land use planning authorities must jointly conduct the planning work.
In June, the FTA awarded $22.97 million in grants to 23 organizations as part of its TOD program.

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