FY26 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Notice of Funding Opportunity
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- FTA-2026-004-TRI
- Agency
-
Federal Transit Administration
Department of Transportation
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $10,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Transportation
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- Small Businesses
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- County Governments
- State Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- For Profit Organizations
- Other
- Individuals
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Points of contact
-
- Marcel Belanger marcel.belanger@dot.gov (202) 366-6140
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Transit Administration is soliciting applications for competitive awards totaling up to $10 million for the FY 2026 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Research Program, with proposals due September 28, 2026. The FTA will fund up to two projects to develop and prototype innovative, widely deployable concepts that enhance operator and vulnerable road user safety and passenger accessibility on buses. Teams must include a transit vehicle manufacturer in a prominent role, and applicants must demonstrate sufficient legal, financial, and technical capabilities to administer federal funds.
Eligible applicants include city and township governments, county governments, state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, higher education institutions (public and private), small businesses, for-profit organizations, nonprofits (501(c)(3)), individuals, and other entity types. The federal cost share may not exceed 80 percent of net project costs, requiring non-federal matching.
Project performance periods span a maximum of three years, with implementation required within two months of award. Research focus areas include operator safety and security (protective barriers, emergency egress), visibility and vulnerable road user detection systems, operator health and comfort enhancements, and passenger safety and accessibility improvements. Eligible activities encompass bus design innovation development and production of retrofittable or new-installation prototypes. Evaluation criteria emphasize transit vehicle design experience, understanding of emerging transit needs, key personnel qualifications, implementation strategy, technical and financial capacity, partnerships, and financial commitment. Proposals are limited to 25 pages and must include supplemental forms, an SF-424, and a project budget identifying federal funding requested and local match amounts. The program operates under Assistance Listing 20.530 and is authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5312. Post-award requirements include Data Management Plans, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, Buy America provisions, and quarterly reporting.
Synopsis
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for competitive awards totaling up to $10 million in Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) funds for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Research Program under Assistance Listing Number 20.530. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively to up to two projects to develop and prototype innovative and widely deployable concepts that are intended to make existing and new buses safer for their operators and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must have sufficient legal, financial, and technical capabilities to receive and administer Federal funds under this program. Teams must include a TVM in a prominent role.
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