The purpose of this grant is for operating assistance for the craven county / carts FY2026.

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Craven County Government $1,250,000 on January 16, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to fund operating assistance for the Craven Area Rural Transit System (CARTS) in fiscal year 2026.

The funding covers salaries, preventive maintenance including vehicle and facility cleaning, and purchase of items with a useful life of less than one year necessary to operate the public transit system. The FTA covers 50 percent of eligible operating expenses, with Craven County providing the remaining 50 percent through local funding sources. The grant supports continued transit service to residents of the New Bern urbanized area without route interruption.

The period of performance runs through March 30, 2032. Work is performed in North Carolina. No sub-recipients are involved in this award.

Activities

Activities to be performed are those associated with the provision of transit service to include but is not limited to salaries preventive maintenance which may include cleaning of vehicles and facilities purchase of items which have a useful life of less than one year etc.

Expected outcomes

Operating assistance assists with the necessary expenditures required to operate a public transit system safety and efficiently. Craven county / carts relies on 5307 assistance to maintain the current level of service without route interruption. With this grant FTA will cover 50% of the cost of those expenses and craven county / carts will cover the other 50% through use of various local funding sources.

Intended beneficiaries

Intended beneficiaries are the residents of the new bern urbanizes area as identified when funding was allocated to craven county / carts via governors apportionment letter dated 04/06/22 and included in this grant request submission.