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Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Research Program

General Grant Program Information

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for competitive awards totaling up to $10 million in Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) funds for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Research Program under Assistance Listing Number 20.530. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively to up to two projects to develop and prototype innovative and widely deployable concepts that are intended to make existing and new buses safer for their operators and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers.

Opportunity Status:
Open
Posted Date:
07/29/2026
Close Date:
09/28/2026
Eligible Applicants:
State Governments; Local Governments; Federally Recognized Tribes and Affiliated Groups; Planning and Project Organizations; Transportation Providers and Operators; Academic and Research Institutions; Private-Sector Applicants; Non-profit; U.S. Territories
Eligible Activities:
Technology Demonstrations and Deployment; Research and Development; Accessibility; Security
Transportation Type:
Transit
Estimated Total Program Funding:
$10,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:
Yes
Grant Opportunity ID:
FTA-2026-004-TRI
Grant Opportunity Link:
Grants.gov Opportunity: FY26 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Notice of Funding Opportunity
Links to Additional Information:
Agency:
USDOT / Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

Eligible lead applicants include:

  • Transit Vehicle Manufacturers (TVMs) and transit vehicle component manufacturers
  • Departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, including Federal laboratories
  • Providers of public transportation, including public transportation agencies, State or local government DOTs, and federally recognized Indian tribes
  • Private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, or consultants
  • State, city, or local government entities, including multi-jurisdictional partnerships, and organizations such as Metropolitan Planning Organizations
  • Other organizations, including research consortia, not-for-profit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education, including large research universities, and technical and community colleges

Eligible Projects

Research on bus designs, innovations, and technologies to improve:

  • Transit bus operator safety and security
  • Transit bus passenger safety and security
  • Safety of vulnerable road users near transit buses
  • Accessibility of transit buses for users with physical and cognitive disabilities
  • Production of a prototype that can be retrofitted on existing buses or installed in new buses.

Funding Information

$10 million in Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) funds are available for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Research Program under Assistance Listing Number 20.530. FTA anticipates funding up to two awards from the available funding.

The maximum Federal share shall not exceed 80 percent of the net project cost. The application should include a description of the applicant’s financial commitment to the proposed project. More information about eligible sources of local match can be found in FTA Circular 6100.1E.

Contact Information

Marcel Belanger
FTA Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation
marcel.belanger@dot.gov 

Disclaimer:
The Dashboard provides users with a high-level overview of relevant Federal discretionary grant programs. The information in the Dashboard is maintained as a secondary resource and may not be updated with the most recent changes to each program's primary guidance materials. Accordingly, please refer to the Federal grant-making agency for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on a grant opportunity in the Dashboard.