FY26 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Notice of Funding Opportunity

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.

Program Details

DOT - Federal Transit Administration is a federal agency that offers the FY26 Bus Safety, Accessibility, and Innovation Notice of Funding Opportunity grant program to support research innovation. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by DOT - Federal Transit Administration through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for research innovation should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include government agencies and municipalities, for-profit businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with DOT - Federal Transit Administration or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Funding available: $0 – $10M. The application deadline is September 28, 2026 (60 days remaining). Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds.

Program Focus

This grant supports research innovation. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 485, 237310. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for.

GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by FTA

Award details

Award range: $0 – $10M. Applications close on September 28, 2026 (60 days remaining).

Categories

Research Innovation