To provide financial assistance to puerto rico section 5311 subrecipients to support the operation maintenance administration and improvement of public transportation services in rural and…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority $3.875 million on August 28, 2026, under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program (CFDA 20.509) to support public transportation operations, maintenance, administration, and improvement in rural and non-urbanized areas across Puerto Rico.

The funded activities include operating assistance, preventive maintenance, drug and alcohol testing programs, acquisition and installation of bus shelters, acquisition of transit vehicles, architecture and engineering services for bus shelters and stops, acquisition of computer equipment, acquisition of radio communication equipment, and Rural Transportation Assistance Program training and technical assistance.

The Puerto Rico Integrated Transit Authority and the municipalities of Adjuntas, Aibonito, Coamo, Utuado, Maricao, Loza, Salinas, Vieques, and Santa Isabel serve as sub-recipients under PRHTA's financial, procurement, programmatic, and compliance oversight. These sub-recipients are responsible for operating, maintaining, and administering their respective Section 5311 public transportation programs.

The award obligates $3.875 million with a period of performance extending from August 28, 2026, through March 30, 2034. Performance occurs throughout Puerto Rico. The funded activities are expected to improve safety, reliability, accessibility, and operational efficiency of public transportation services in rural communities, increase service reliability and operational efficiency, and improve vehicle condition through preventive maintenance.

Activities

The activities included in this application will be carried out by the participating subrecipients under the financial procurement programmatic and compliance oversight of the puerto rico highway and transportation authority (prhta) as the designated recipient. The application includes the following eligible activities:a) operating assistanceb) preventive maintenancec) drug and alcohol testing programd) acquisition and installation of bus shelterse) acquisition of transit vehiclesf) architecture and engineering services for bus shelters and bus stopsg) acquisition of computer equipmenth) acquisition of radio communication equipmenti) rural transportation assistance program (rtap)trainingtechnical assistance

Expected outcomes

The activities funded under this application are expected to improve the safety reliability accessibility and efficiency of public transportation services in rural communities throughout puerto rico.expected outcomes include:increased service reliability and operational efficiency; improved vehicle condition through preventive maintenance; expanded mobility and access to employment healthcare education government services and other essential destinations; improved passenger safety and accessibility; enhanced administrative and financial management capacity; improved grant administration reporting and recordkeeping; improved communication between transit personnel and vehicle operators; increased compliance with applicable federal transit administration requirements. The acquisition of vehicles passenger facilities communications equipment and computer equipment together with operating assistance and preventive maintenance activities will improve the quality and continuity of transit services while reducing service interruptions and enhancing the overall passenger experience.

Intended beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of this application are residents of rural and non-urbanized communities throughout puerto rico who depend on public transportation services. The projects will particularly benefit senior citizens individuals with disabilities low-income residents workers students healthcare patients and other transit-dependent populations by improving access to employment healthcare education government services shopping and other essential community destinations.improved service reliability and accessibility will also benefit the general public visitors and other passengers who rely on public transportation.

Subrecipient activities

The activities included in this application will be carried out as applicable by:puerto rico integrated transit authority (prita)municipality of adjuntasmunicipality of aibonitomunicipality of coamomunicipality of loizamunicipality of maricaomunicipality of salinasmunicipality of santa isabelmunicipality of utuadomunicipality of viequesprhta as the designated recipient will provide overall grant administration financial oversight procurement oversight technical assistance reimbursement review compliance monitoring and subrecipient oversight in accordance with the applicable FTA master agreement FTA circular 5010.1F FTA circular 9040.1H 2 CFR part 200 and the prhta state management plan.