The purpose of the grant is to provide galveston island transit formula funding for operations preventive maintenance and ADA paratransit services to assist transit operations and provide…

The City of Galveston, Department of Transportation, received a Federal Transit Formula Grants award (CFDA 20.507) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in the amount of $3.3 million, obligated on August 29, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. This formula grant provides operational funding for Galveston Island Transit's fixed-route and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services, ensuring continued Monday through Saturday service delivery to the Galveston community. The funding supports essential transit operations, including driver salaries, fuel, and administrative expenses necessary to maintain public transportation accessibility.

In addition to operational support, the award finances preventive maintenance and repair costs for Galveston Island Transit's modernized fleet, which includes nostalgic trolley buses and three alternative fuel vehicles. The grant benefits transit-dependent individuals within the City of Galveston, as well as university staff, tourists, and hotel employees utilizing public transportation services. With no subrecipients identified for this award, the City of Galveston directly administers all funded activities to sustain the transit system's recent operational gains, including a 20 percent increase in ridership post-pandemic despite reduced service hours.

Activities

Funding would be for operational costs of fixed route services and ADA paratransit services. Funding will also be utilized for preventative maintenance and repair costs of the current updated fleet to include three alternative fuel buses.

Expected outcomes

Federal funding would assure that fixed route and ADA operations continue monday through saturday. The funding would also provide for the maintenance and repair of the recently updated fleet of nostalgic trolley buses that include three alternative fuel buses.

Intended beneficiaries

Beneficiaries would be those individuals within the city of galveston that utilize public transportation. Galveston island transit has increased ridership post pandemic by 20% even with reduced service and hours. The primary users of of galveston island transit are transit dependent. Galveston island transit has been expanding services to include the university of texas medical branch tourist and hotel employees.