The leech lake transportation program (LLTP) will use the total FY25 5311C tribal formula apportionment of $999115.00 and; the total FY25 5311 rural formula apportionment of $526045.00 and; a local…

The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration awarded the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe $2,051,205 on June 25, 2026, under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program (CFDA 20.509) to operate public transit services on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.

The Leech Lake Transportation Program uses the award to sustain public transit service within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in north-central Minnesota and up to 25 miles beyond the exterior boundaries through June 30, 2027. Operating assistance covers driver wages, fringe benefits, office supplies, equipment purchases under $5,000, equipment maintenance, phone service, fuel, meeting expenses, travel expenses, and applicable indirect costs. The program operates two deviated routes to regional activity centers: one from the reservation interior to Bemidji, Minnesota, and one to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, running Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with morning and afternoon departures. The program also operates seven direct-response dial-a-ride routes to destinations within and up to 25 miles beyond the reservation exterior boundaries, Monday through Saturday between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The total project cost is $2,051,205. The federal share comprises $999,115 from the FY25 5311C tribal formula apportionment (100 percent federal) and $526,045 from the FY25 5311 rural formula apportionment (50 percent federal). The recipient contributed $526,045 in local funds, representing 25.65 percent of total project cost. The period of performance runs May 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Activities

Lltp will use the operating funds to sustain public transit service within the leech lake indian reservation (north-central minnesota) and up to 25 miles beyond the exterior boundaries. Lltp will operate two deviated routes to destinations beyond the exterior boundaries of the reservation. One route will travel from the interior of the reservation to the city of bemidji (MN). The other route travels from the interior of the reservation to the city of grand rapids (MN). Both destinations are considered regional activity centers with access specialty goods services municipal public offices and economic opportunities that are not available in the reservations local communities. The deviated service operates monday through friday between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 PM. Each route offers morning and afternoon departures. Additionally lltp will operate seven direct response routes (DIAL-a-RIDE) to destinations within the exterior boundaries of the reservation and up to 25 miles beyond. The direct response service operates monday through saturday between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 PM. Lltp shall maintain and report service data specific to each mode to the national transit database (NTD): unlinked passenger trips (UPTS) vehicle revenue hours (VRHS) vehicle revenue miles (VRMS) and vehicles operated in maximum service (VOMS). Lltp shall submit in trams the required milestone progress reports (MPRS) and federal financial reports (FFRS) for this award when due.

Expected outcomes

This project will help lltp reduce transportation barriers for individuals and families by supporting continued operations of the local transit service. The local transit service will continue providing the following benefits: improved access to high quality food nutrition; expanded employment educational opportunities; enhanced participation in health wellness programs: increased access to goods specialty services extended contact with family social groups; promote participation in cultural religious activities and; provide transit to regional recreation entertainment destinations.

Intended beneficiaries

This project will benefit residents and families that live on the leech lake indian reservation. As of the 2020 decennial census approximately 11400 people reside on the leech lake reservation. According to the U.S. Census bureaus 2021 american community survey 5-year estimates reservation families consist of 4400 households. The median age of the reservation population is 38.4 years. Children under 18 represent 28.3% of the total population. 19.9% of the population is over 65.the reservations average family size is 3.36 and the median household income is just under $56000 compared to $70000 in the U.S. Overall. 18.8% of the reservation population is at or below the poverty the level and 41.7% percent of households with children in the home are low income. According the lltp 2020 transportation development plan 44% of transit users have no access to vehicles 35% cannot or do not drive and 25% use the transit service to save money.

Subrecipient activities

No subrecipient activities