Provide funding for capital purchases to support the virginia rural transit asset management and equity program

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation $10.777 million on May 1, 2026, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) to procure 78 replacement transit vehicles for 11 rural public transit agencies across Virginia.

The vehicles will modernize aging fleets serving over 1.3 million transit riders across 64 localities and 55 opportunity zones in rural Southwest, Central, and Eastern Virginia regions, covering more than 16,000 square miles. Fleet replacement is intended to enhance service reliability, improve safety and access, and free resources for agencies to invest in infrastructure and safety measures within their service areas.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation serves as the grant recipient and pass-through entity, distributing funding directly to 11 sub-recipient rural transit agencies: Lake Country Area Agency on Aging (Lake Area Bus/Halifax Area Rural Transportation), District Three Governmental Cooperative (Mountain Lynx Transit), Mountain Empire Older Citizens (METGO!), Town of Blackstone (Blackstone Area Bus Service), Bay Aging Inc. (Bay Transit), Town of Farmville (Farmville Area Bus), Jaunt, City of Danville (Danville Transit), Unified Human Services Transportation Systems Inc. (RADAR), Virginia Regional Transit (VRT), and Accomack-Northampton Transportation District Commission (STAR Transit).

Period of performance runs through December 31, 2028. Work is performed in Virginia.

Activities

Replacement of seventy-eight (78) replacement vehicles for eleven (11) rural (FTA 5311) public transit agencies across the commonwealth of virginia.

Expected outcomes

Modern vehicles purchased will support statewide asset management goals and support safety access and mobility in rural areas throughout virginia. Fleet modernization will enhance reliability of transit service and free up more resources for agencies to invest in infrastructure and safety measures within their service area.

Intended beneficiaries

Over 1.3 million transit riders throughout 64 localities and 55 opportunity zones covering more than 16000 square miles in in the rural southwest central and eastern virginia regions of the commonwealth served by eleven (11) rural transit agencies.

Subrecipient activities

This proposal provides direct support to eleven (11) rural transit agencies throughout the commonwealth. These agencies are: lake country area agency on aging (lake area bus halifax area rural transportation)district three governmental cooperative (mountain lynx transit)mountain empire older citizens (metgo!)town of blackstone (blackstone area bus service)BAY aging INC. (BAY transit) town of farmville (farmville area bus)jauntcity of danville (danville transit)unified human services transportation systems INC. (RADAR)virginia regional transit (VRT)accomack-northampton transportation district commission (star transit)