Metrowest Regional Transit Authority

Metrowest Regional Transit Authority, a U.S. government entity and Massachusetts-chartered regional transit authority headquartered in Framingham, is a federal grant recipient (87% of 55 awards as prime recipient) under the Federal Transit Administration's formula grant programs, with no federal contract prime footprint. MWRTA operates fixed-route shuttle, paratransit, and microtransit services across 16 Boston Metrowest communities and receives no competitive set-aside designations—all awards flow through formula grant mechanisms from the Federal Transit Administration.

MWRTA's grant portfolio centers on three concrete capability areas. Operating support and equipment procurement dominate the workload: the authority has received multiple Federal Transit Formula Grants (CFDA 20.507) for miscellaneous bus and facilities support equipment, tools, call-center technology upgrades, and paratransit operations—recent examples include a $4.341 million award in December 2024 for operations and equipment at the Blandin Avenue Hub and Framingham Commuter Rail Station Hub, and a $3.2 million award in April 2026 for the same facilities supporting 101,000 vehicle service hours across the region. Vehicle procurement and fleet electrification form the second pillar: MWRTA has procured three Gillig compressed natural gas 30-passenger vehicles under a $1.98 million Federal Transit Formula Grant (May 2025), one zero-emissions electric vehicle and charging infrastructure under a $1.56 million award (September 2025), and four 12-passenger replacement vehicles under $330,000 in FFY 2020 bus facility funds. Capital infrastructure and microtransit expansion comprise the third area: a $1.75 million award in May 2025 funds planning and design of Blandin Hub operations and maintenance expansion through December 2026, while multiple Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grants support the CATCH Connect microtransit program expansion into Hudson and Marlborough (award date April 2023) and evening service in Framingham and Natick (award date July 2024). A $985,000 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Project Grant (CFDA 20.941) from the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation awarded August 2023 funds planning and engineering for solar power and battery bank installation at the Blandin Avenue maintenance facility.

Customer concentration is absolute: the Federal Transit Administration accounts for 47 of 55 awards (87% coverage) with the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation capturing the remaining award. Dollar obligation across all 55 prime and sub awards totals $102.8 million. MWRTA also serves as sub-recipient on seven grant sub-awards, including accessible vehicle procurement (August 2025, October 2024, July 2022) and mobility management funding for the Transitions and Outreach Program (August 2024), with operating assistance sub-awards supporting the CATCH Connect Golden Triangle weekend service and general transit operations maintenance.

Activity shows relative flatness with a recent uptick: four awards in 2022, two in 2023, eight in 2024, four in 2025, and one in 2026. Three awards face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months and therefore face recompete exposure in that window. MWRTA's service area expanded to over 560,000 passengers and 175,000 vehicle service hours in FY 2024 (from 522,000 passengers and 101,000 hours in FY 2025 reporting), with an FY 2025 operating budget of $17.7 million.