Transit

Transit Funding

Enhancing Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (FTA Section 5310) Call for Projects

The Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO) will be accepting applications for FTA Section 5310 funds from June 2, 2025, through July 31, 2025. These funds are for improving the mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the OTO area. Non-profit human service agencies and public transportation providers are eligible to apply. The purchase of accessible vehicles is the primary project funded by this program. Applications will be made available on June 2, 2025, and will be due by 4pm on July 31, 2025.

Applications have to be submitted online through OTO's TIP tool. The below guidebook includes a description on how to create an account and the Enhancing Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Walkthrough provides a step-by-step guide with screenshots on how to submit an application.

The current guidelines can be found here: Section 5310 Guidebook FY24

The screenshot walkthrough for the Enhancing Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program can be found here: Transit Screenshot Walkthrough

OTO hosted an optional Pre-Application Grant Workshop on June 23, 2025 at 2pm. The workshop included a presentation regarding available vehicles and pricing and go through the new online application process. A video recording of the pre-application grant workshop can be found below and the presentation slides are available on the following link: Pre-application Grant workshop 2025.

OTO will also host an additional virtual office hour on July 15th, 2025 at 10am to answer questions or help with applications. Please use the following link on July 15th to join the virtual office hour:

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MoDOT's current pricing chart can be found here: MoDOT Vehicle Bid Awards as of February 2025 - Updated 6/18/2025

Please note that currently only the pricing for Wide Body Cutaways, Floor Plan GG, HH and II (IFB605CO21001151) and accessible Minivans with rear entry, floor plan CCC and DDD (IFB605CO24000878) are guaranteed. The vehicle class and floor plans are highlighted in green. All other vehicle prices, including 15 passenger vans, accessible minivan side entry, high and medium roof conversion vans, wide body cutaway (floorplan CC and DD) and narrow body cutaway, are under review. The pricing shown in the spreadsheet was the last available pricing from February 2025 and a price increase should be anticipated. Vehicle availability is not guaranteed at the moment. To view the floor plans, please click on the pdf in the spreadsheet.

If you have any questions about this program or need help with the online application, please contact David Knaut at dknaut@ozarkstransportation.org or 417-865-3047 x 107.

FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Funding

The Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (49 U.S.C. 5307) makes federal resources available to urbanized areas and to governors for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas and for transportation-related planning. Currently, City Utilities Transit is the only provider in the OTO region to pursue Section 5307 funding. Until another provider expresses interest in applying for these funds, the OTO does not conduct a competitive application process for these funds.

Eligible activities for funding with Section 5307 monies include: (1) planning, engineering, design, and evaluation of transit projects and other technical transportation-related studies; (2) capital investments in bus and bus-related activities such as replacement, overhaul, and rebuilding of buses, crime prevention and security equipment and construction of maintenance and passenger facilities; and (3) capital investments in new and existing fixed guideway systems including rolling stock, overhaul and rebuilding of vehicles, track, signals, communications, and computer hardware and software. In addition, associated transit improvements and certain expenses associated with mobility management programs are eligible under the program. All preventive maintenance and some Americans with Disabilities Act complementary paratransit service costs are considered capital costs.

FTA Section 5310 Enhancing Mobility For Seniors and Individuals With Disabilities

The OTO is responsible for conducting a competitive project selection process for the region's annual allocation of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 grant funds. These funds can be used to purchase rolling stock for area human service agencies or to make improvements to CU-Transit's system that goes above and beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The OTO's Local Coordinating Board for Transit (LCBT) is responsible for reviewing applications and making recommendations to the OTO's Board of Directors.

The LCBT uses the Section 5310 funding to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities that have been identified in the Transit Coordination Plan, the region's coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan. The competitive process also follows the procedures outlined in the OTO's Program Management Plan.

The LCBT is currently updating the region's Transit Coordination Plan. For more information on this process, please visit our TCP project page.

FTA Section 5339 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (49 U.S.C. 5339) makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants. A sub-program, the Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Program, provides competitive grants for bus and bus facility projects that support low and zero-emission vehicles. Currently, City Utilities Transit is the only provider in the OTO region to pursue Section 5339 funding. Until another provider expresses interest in applying for these funds, the OTO does not conduct a competitive application process for these funds.