Provide/purchase one year of preventive maintenance; nine months of paratransit service; one year of upwp salaries; shop equipment; service vehicles (6); security (security cameras access control…

The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration awarded Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (operating as Embark) $17.946 million in formula grant funding on April 16, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507).

The award funds one year of preventive maintenance, nine months of paratransit service, one year of Unified Planning Work Program salaries, shop equipment, six service vehicles, security infrastructure including cameras, access control, lighting, fencing, radios, and bus driver barriers, safety equipment, pylons and ticket vending machines for a bus rapid transit route, fare payment systems including fareboxes, wall-mounted validators, account-based payment systems and open payment/contactless solutions, and planning studies covering fare collection mini-hub feasibility, design for new facilities, and NEPA analysis for future bus rapid transit routes. The funding covers vehicle parts, repairs, supplies, and other items with useful life of less than one year necessary to continue transit operations and maintain rolling stock in a state of good repair.

Performance occurs in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of December 31, 2029. The assistance type is a formula grant, which provides funding apportioned annually to urbanized areas for transit capital and operating assistance and transportation-related planning.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide/purchase one year of preventive maintenance; nine months of paratransit service; one year of upwp salaries; shop equipment; service vehicles (6); security (security cameras access control lighting fencing radios and barriers for bus drivers); safety; pylons and ticket vending machines for bus rapid transit route; fare payment systems (fareboxes ticket vending machines wall mounted validators account-based payment systems and open payment/contactless solutions); and planning studies (fare collection mini-hub feasibility design for new facilities and nepa for future bus rapid transit routes) for the central oklahoma transportation and parking during authority (cotpa) during the period of 09/01/25 to 06/30/26.

Activities

Funds will be used to cover all eligible preventive maintenance and paratransit services expenses such as vehicle parts repairs supplies salaries and other items having a useful life of less than one year in order to continue transit operations. Funds will also cover eligible upwp salaries. Other activities to be performed will be to purchase shop equipment; service vehicles (6); security (security cameras access control lighting fencing radios and barriers for bus drivers); safety; pylons and ticket vending machines for bus rapid transit route; fare payment systems (fareboxes ticket vending machines wall mounted validators account-based payment systems and open payment/contactless solutions); and planning studies (fare collection mini-hub feasibility design for new facilities and nepa for future bus rapid transit routes).

Expected outcomes

Funding will permit cotpa to meet preventive maintenance and paratransit services standards and continue to provide operations (routes and services) at a high level of service and keeping the rolling stock vehicles in a state of good repair. Other outcomes from the funding will include supplemental support such as upwp activities; shop equipment (which enables the mechanics to perform maintenance/repairs); service vehicles (6) (which allows employees to be more efficient); security (security cameras access control lighting fencing radios and barriers for bus drivers); safety; pylons and ticket vending machines for bus rapid transit route; fare payment systems (fareboxes ticket vending machines wall mounted validators account-based payment systems and open payment/contactless solutions); and planning studies (fare collection mini-hub feasibility design for new facilities and nepa for future bus rapid transit routes).

Intended beneficiaries

Cotpa and the riders that rely on its service will benefit from continued reliable and efficient services permitting workers to get to work and other riders to get to essential services. Riders will benefit from the pylons and ticket vending machines for bus rapid transit route and fare payment systems (fareboxes ticket vending machines wall mounted validators account-based payment systems and open payment/contactless solutions). Employees will benefit from the shop equipment (which enables the mechanics to perform maintenance/repairs); service vehicles (6) (which allows employees to be more efficient); and security (security cameras access control lighting fencing radios and barriers for bus drivers).

Subrecipient activities

The city of edmond will use these funds to cover all eligible preventive maintenance and operating assistance expenses such as vehicle parts repairs supplies salaries and other items having a useful life of less than one year in order to continue transit operations.