Name of Program: Specialized Transportation Program, as authorized by the Federal Transit Administration, 49 USC Section 5310. 

Funding: Federal Transit Administration appropriation is available on FTA’s website at   

Program Goal and Brief Description: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides Federal funds for the purchase of equipment to support transportation services for the elderly and people with disabilities where existing transportation is unavailable, inappropriate, or insufficient.  The Federal Transit Administration provides 80% of the cost of capital items; the remaining 20% must be provided by local funding, which may include transportation funding from other federal programs other than U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs or from DOT's Federal Lands Highway Program. ODOT writes the specifications and purchases the vehicles with costs reimbursed by FTA and the recipient.

Who Can Apply?: Private nonprofit (501(c)(3)) corporations, public bodies identified by the state as lead agencies in a coordination project, or public bodies which certify that no private nonprofit corporations exist within their jurisdiction for the provision of elderly and disabled transportation.

Application Process: Funds are available each Federal Fiscal Year and are distributed through a competitive application process.  There are two types of applicants - those from urbanized areas and those from non-urbanized areas.  While ODOT administers the program for the entire state, certain responsibilities are assigned to the seventeen Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO).  ODOT has established the eligibility requirements to be used for all applicants.  Each MPO may establish additional eligibility requirements and deadlines to fit its urbanized area's needs so long as such requirements and deadlines are not less restrictive than ODOT's. 

Contact Person: (614) 466-8955