Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Transit in Greater Minnesota

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Transit Operating Grant

We distribute state and federal operations funding to eligible rural, small urban, and tribal transit providers.

How it works

State rules require us to collect and consider specific information to allocate funding and award contracts. The information is needed for funding decisions, required for the Management Plan, and/or used in compliance monitoring and contract awards. The details for each item are included in a table within the instructions as well as the Checklist document. 

Eligibility

Existing systems

Transit systems that received the grant in 2024 are eligible for the 2025 grant.

New systems

Your system must provide transit services to the public. Email Noel Shughart to initiate a competitive grant process for your proposed service area.

Timeline

  • May 1, 2024: Application period opens
  • May 16, 2024: Application guidance webinar
  • June 28, 2024: Applications deadline
  • Fall 2024: Operating awards announced

Application process

Applications must be completed and submitted online through the BlackCat Transit Data Management System.

Step 1: Review the instructions

Step 2: Start your application

  • Log into the BlackCat system.
  • Choose Applications.
  • Select 2024 Application for 2025 Transit Operating Grant

Step 3: Complete and upload required forms

  • Download, complete, and upload all the required forms to your application in BlackCat.

Step 4: Complete and upload checklist

  • Check all the boxes on the application checklist and upload it to your application in BlackCat.

Step 5: Submit

  • Choose the submit button to submit your application by June 28, 2024.

Guidance

We'll hold one webinar at 11 a.m. on May 16, 2024, to go over the application requirements and demonstrate how the forms work. We'll email you an invitation to our webinar.

You can contact your transportation program manager if you need further assistance.

After you apply

  • We'll review your application for compliance.
  • We'll announce initial allocations in fall 2024.
  • We'll email award contracts in fall 2024.
  • You'll need to sign your contract and return it to us within 45 days from receipt.
  • Funding is available Jan. 1, 2025.

Reporting requirements

If we award you funds, you must submit the following reports:

  • Monthly Operating Budget
  • Monthly Ridership Statistics (service level and passenger stats)
  • Annual Vehicle Statistics Report (VSR)

For the Monthly Operating Budget and the Monthly Ridership Statistics, you'll complete the reports in BlackCat Transit Data Management System and submit them 30 days after the month of reporting. Work with your transportation program manager to complete these reports.

More information

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13.03, subd. 1, all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential. The responsible authority in every government entity shall keep records containing government data in such an arrangement and condition as to make them easily accessible for convenient use. Photographic, photostatic, microphotographic, or microfilmed records shall be considered as accessible for convenient use regardless of the size of such records.