AGENDA ITEM
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Review of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant application(s) received from the CTC and from Coordination Contractors, if available, for the FY 26-27 cycle.
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PRESENTER
TPO Planning Staff
SUMMARY
Each year, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducts a grant application process for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants. FDOT is responsible for reviewing these grant applications and determining which, if any, to fund according to its grant criteria. The FFY25 grant applications for FTA Sections 5310, 5311 and 5339 were due to FDOT District One by 5:00 PM Friday, December 15, 2025.
These grants provide operating assistance and capital assistance for transit and paratransit systems around the country. The grants must support services to elderly and disabled passengers and rural trips. The funds are distributed by formula, to each of the States; some funds are allocated to Urbanized Areas (Lakeland, Winter Haven in Polk) and some are distributed by FDOT.
Pursuant to Chapter 427, Florida Statutes (FS) and Rule 41-2 Florida Administrative Code (FAC), the TD LCB is required to review grant applications for coordination purposes. In other words: if these funds are awarded to the applicant, will that award further the goals of the Polk coordinated transportation system and service area.
Grant applications received by Polk TPO staff up until December 6, 2025, are attached. This includes 2 from Citrus Connection, as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) in Polk County. Non-profit agencies which provide transportation to their clients, and which have coordination agreements with the designated CTC may also be eligible for these funds. Any such applications received by the Polk TPO this week, will be distributed at the LCB meeting.
After today’s LCB meeting, Planning Staff will send a memo to FDOT to let them know what action(s) the LCB took on this agenda item, if any. That memo will note that the FTA grants are mentioned at page 15 of the Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan (TDSP) - as was done at the previous agenda item. Copies of local Notifications of Grant funds will eventually be amended into the Polk TPO’s Transportation Improvement Program.
The Grant application packets are quite lengthy, so, the TPO asks for just a few pages for the Agenda Packets. Complete information on each grant application would be available from each applicant. Grant Applicants were advised to put a ‘placeholder page’ in their application for the Polk LCB’s actions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1.Review the list of grant applications received.
2.Make recommendations on the applicability of these funds to coordinated transportation services in Polk County.
3.Direct Planning Staff to communicate the actions taken today by the Polk TD LCB to FDOT District One.
ATTACHMENT
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