For the past seven years, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has helped energize grassroots coalitions through its Local Transit Coalition Grant Program. The response has been very positive. Activities funded include both public education programs and advocacy efforts, and have proven to be extremely helpful in promoting transit in communities around the country. The experience has been that a small amount of funding can often go a long way in boosting local grassroots efforts. As the nation continues to address traffic congestion, mobility challenges, and energy conservation, it remains important to advance the funding of public transportation at all levels of government.
This year APTA will again sponsor the Local Transit Coalition Grant Program. Grants awarded to successful applicants generally will not exceed $5,000. A copy of the grant guidelines/application procedures is enclosed.
Emphasis will be given to proposals wherein grassroots advocacy efforts can help achieve specific state and local public transportation goals. Such activities could include a focus on improving transit service in order to increase ridership and educating respective decision-makers about policies favorable to public transportation and activities supportive of national efforts to advance public transportation as part of upcoming climate change, energy or transportation legislation.
A local coalition can apply directly for the funds, provided it has a letter of support from the general manager of the local APTA member transit agency(ies). A transit system may apply on behalf of a coalition.
If your local coalition is interested in the grant program, please forward this information on to them. The applications and letters of support are due to APTA by Friday, May 30, 2008. We expect to announce project awards in July. The guidelines are also posted on APTA's web site. Applications can be sent by mail, or electronically to Kylah Hynes at khynes@apta.com or by fax to (202) 496-4322. If you need additional information or have any questions, please contact Kylah Hynes at (202) 496-4807 or via email.
Attachments: APTA 2008 Grant Program Guidelines
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