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Transit Connectivity Grant

Regional Transit Authorities can apply for grants for the creation or altering of routes that advance connectivity between existing public transportation routes and/or local economic hubs.
The FY26 grant application is now open. Applications are due September 12. Only RTAs are eligible to apply.

Contacts

Transit grants - MassDOT Rail & Transit

Phone

Rachel Fichtenbaum Call Transit grants - MassDOT Rail & Transit, Rachel Fichtenbaum at 857-368-8584

Online

Email Transit grants - MassDOT Rail & Transit at MassDOTtransitgrants@dot.state.ma.us

The Details

What you need

Under Section 1595-6370 of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Act, MassDOT has up to $10 million to award grants to Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) for the creation or altering of routes that advance connectivity between existing public transportation routes including, but not limited to, RTA routes, MBTA routes, and local economic hubs. Awards will be made on a competitive basis with funding provided contractually.   

Eligible Projects: Funding will be provided for operating projects that address the following criteria:

  • opportunities for increased ridership
  • opportunities for increased total mileage covered in a single trip (i.e., coverage)
  • opportunities to reach low-income individuals

Application Limits: RTAs may submit as many applications as they choose. Joint applications are encouraged. Joint applications of multiple RTAs seeking to connect their services, facilitate transfers, or provide coverage for areas between their service areas will receive bonus points. 

How to apply

Steps

  1. Review the instructions.
  2. Prepare your answers (see questions below).
  3. Download the budget template and fill out.
  4. Compile any attachments you will want to submit, such as letters of support. Letters of support and additional attachments are optional but welcome.
  5. Apply online through the online form. Important: once you begin the online form, you cannot save your answers and return, so please make sure you have all your responses and attachments ready before you start the online form.

Next steps

Questions

Here are the questions you will be asked to answer when you open the online form. Please prepare all responses and attachments before beginning the online form, as you will not be able to save your work once you start the online form.

Basic Information

  1. Unique name of your proposed project
  2. Lead applicant RTA
  3. Additional partner RTAs, if applicable
  4. Main contact person name
  5. Main contact person email
  6. Main contact person phone number
  7. Proposed dates of service

Service Plan (15 points)

  1. Describe your proposed service.
  2. What routes or service areas does this proposed service connect?
  3. Are you proposing fixed-route, microtransit, dial-a-ride, or some other mode? Why is this mode the best choice for your proposed service?
  4. What is your plan and schedule for implementation?

Project Need (10 points)

  1. How do you know this is a need? Cite any studies such as the Comprehensive Regional Transportation Plans, Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plans, or others as well as rider surveys or requests from riders and potential riders.

Prioritization (15 points)

  1. Increasing ridership: what ridership do you expect on this service and how did you calculate that estimate?
  2. Increasing coverage: will this proposed service increase the area you are able to cover? What is the square mileage of the new area that will be served if this project is funded?
  3. Does your project prioritize low-income individuals? If so, describe how, and describe any partnerships with community-based organizations to help reach low-income riders for this service.

Evaluation (5 points)

  1. Please describe how you will determine if this pilot is successful and list what measures you will track.

Bonus Points (10 points)

  1. Bonus points are available for joint applications submitted between RTAs connecting their service. Bonus points are also available for an RTA looking to connect service with the MBTA, if the applicant takes steps to collaborate with the MBTA, at minimum by reaching out to Glenn Geiler at ggeiler@mbta.com before submitting the application and sharing a draft scope/abstract and explanation of any role you anticipate for the MBTA. Whether you are collaborating with other RTAs, with the MBTA, or both, please describe your collaboration attempts here

Attachments

  1. Budget - use the budget template
  2. Letters of support - optional; please compile all letters of support into one PDF to submit together
  3. Additional attachments - optional; if you are submitting any, please compile them all into one PDF to submit together

More info

FY25 Grants

Downloads

Open PDF file, 204.68 KB,  Transit Connectivity Request for Applications - 2026 (English, PDF 204.68 KB)
Open XLSX file, 24.04 KB,  Transit connectivity grant budget template 2026 (English, XLSX 24.04 KB)

Contact

Phone
Rachel Fichtenbaum Call Transit grants - MassDOT Rail & Transit, Rachel Fichtenbaum at 857-368-8584
Online
Email Transit grants - MassDOT Rail & Transit at MassDOTtransitgrants@dot.state.ma.us

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