The purpose of this request is to provide funding assistance for operating state program administration and project administration for the commonwealth office of transit authority (cota).

The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration awarded the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority $2.867 million in formula grant funding on August 14, 2026, under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program (CFDA 20.509) to support public transportation operations and program administration in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The recipient will deploy consolidated funds to cover eligible operating and capital expenses necessary to support demand-responsive shared-ride and fixed-route transit services across Saipan. Eligible costs include employee salaries and wages, fuel, communications, utilities, professional services, travel, training, software licensing and upgrades, transportation technology systems, vehicle maintenance, replacement vehicles, and other allowable operational and infrastructure costs. COTA's expected outcomes include continuously providing safe, reliable, and affordable transportation services while maintaining program compliance and managing transit infrastructure planning and oversight on Saipan.

The intended beneficiaries are seniors, individuals with disabilities, and the general riding public of the CNMI. The funding is expected to increase COTA's transit capacity and support upcoming transit infrastructure projects to expand service levels across the community.

The period of performance runs through December 31, 2027. COTA reports no sub-recipients for this award.

Activities

The consolidated funds will be used to cover eligible expenses associated with operating assistance program administration and capital activities necessary to support public transportation services in the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands. Eligible expenses may include employee salaries and wages fuel communications utilities professional services travel training software licensing and upgrades transportation technology systems vehicle maintenance replacement vehicles and other allowable costs necessary to operate maintain and improve cotas demand-responsive shared-ride and fixed-route transit services in the cnmi.

Expected outcomes

Cotas expected outcomes is to continuously provide a safe reliable and affordable transportation services maintain program compliance and contract consultant services to actively plan and oversee cotas future transit infrastructure on the island of saipan cnmi.

Intended beneficiaries

The seniors and individuals with disabilities and the general riding public of the islands will reap the benefits of the additional funding assistance which shall increase cotas transit capacity and effectively manage the upcoming transit infrastructure projects thereby expanding the level of transit services to the community.

Subrecipient activities

The commonwealth office of transit authority (cota) does not have any sub-recipients.