Vehicle replacement grant - rural
The purpose of the Rural Public Transit Vehicle Replacement Grant Application is to assist in financing the replacement of public transit vehicles that are utilized in the operations of public transit services in Greater Minnesota.
This grant opportunity includes both State of Minnesota and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds that are administered by the MnDOT Office of Transit and Active Transportation (OTAT). As part of the Public Transit Participation Program, this application represents an opportunity to apply for funding that may include but are not limited to the following types of federal funds, Bus and Bus Facilities (Section 5339), Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP), and State of Minnesota funding, and other federal discretionary opportunities.
The estimated annual vehicle replacement target for calendar year 2025 for rural is $7 million.
Eligibility
Rural subrecipients with a current public transit operating agreement with MnDOT under Minn. Stat. 174.24 are eligible to apply for the 2025 Rural Replacement Vehicle Grant Program.
Timeline
- May 1, 2024: Application period opens
- May 13, 2024: Application guidance webinar
- June 28, 2024: Applications deadline
- Early 2025: Awards announced
Application process
Applications must be completed and submitted online through the BlackCat Transit Data Management System.
Step 1: Starting an application
- Log into the BlackCat system
- Choose Applications
- Select 2024 Application for 2025 Rural Vehicle Replacement Grant
Step 2: Complete the required application forms
- System Vehicle Inventory Spreadsheet.xls
- Affidavit of Noncollusion
- Conflict of Interest
- Certification-No Conviction of Felony Financial Crime
- Resolution
Step 3: Review and update
- Review, update and upload the System Vehicle Inventory Spreadsheet into BlackCat.
Step 4: Submit
- Check the necessary boxes in the application, then choose the submit button by June 28, 2024.
Step 5: Notify
- Email your project manager and copy Gary Taft to notify them that you have completed the 2025 vehicle replacement application.
Guidance
We'll hold one webinar at 11 a.m. on May 13, 2024, to go over the application requirements and demonstrate how the forms work. We'll email you an invitation to our webinar.
After you apply
All revenue vehicles in the State of Minnesota utilized by the rural transit systems will be prioritized and ranked for replacement consideration based on age, miles, and lifetime maintenance costs by our transit asset management coordinator.
Notification
Award notifications will be sent in the first quarter of 2025.