FY 2026 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The Federal Transit Administration is offering FY 2026 funding for the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning, a discretionary grant program that supports local communities planning around eligible transit capital projects. The program funds comprehensive or site-specific planning tied to a new fixed guideway project or a core capacity improvement project, with work focused on land use and transportation integration, economic development, ridership, multimodal connectivity, pedestrian and bicycle access, private-sector engagement, infrastructure needs, and mixed-use development near transit stations. Eligible applicants must be existing FTA grantees and either the sponsor of an eligible transit capital project or an entity with land use planning authority in the project corridor, with partnership evidence required unless one entity holds both roles. Approximately $28.5 million is available for about 35 awards, applications are due July 10, 2026, cost sharing is required, and the FTA contact listed is April McLean-McCoy at April.McLeanMcCoy@dot.gov.
Eligible Applicants
Any comprehensive or site-specific planning work proposed for funding under this program must be associated with an eligible transit capital project, namely a new fixed guideway project or a core capacity improvement project as defined in Section 5309(a) of title 49, United States Code. These statutory definitions are also provided in Section 2 of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Projects are not required to be within the Capital Investment Grants Program. Applicants and eventual grant recipients under this program must be existing FTA grantees as of the publication date of the NOFO. A proposer must either be the project sponsor of an eligible transit capital project as defined above or an entity with land use planning authority in an eligible transit capital project corridor. Evidence of a partnership between these two types of entity will be required unless the applicant has both responsibilities. Please refer to the NOFO for further information.