Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Transportation is offering the Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program, a federal grant aimed at advancing transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. This program supports planning and development-phase activities for projects that are expected to be eligible for various U.S. Department of Transportation credit and grant programs, although future applications for additional funding are not mandatory. With an estimated total funding of $54.2 million, the program anticipates awarding approximately 100 grants, with individual awards ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Interested applicants, including local governments, states, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, can access the application portal starting September 8, 2025, and should direct inquiries to ruralandtribalta@dot.gov or call 202-366-0765 for further assistance.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants for the program must be one of the following:1. A unit of local government or political subdivision that is located outside of an urbanized area that has a population of more than 150,000 residents, as determined by the Bureau of the Census. Examples of local governments and political subdivisions include the following: County; Borough; Municipality; City; Town; Township; Parish (under the state of Louisiana); Local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937; Special district; School district; Council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; or Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government;2. A state, territory, or possession of the United States seeking to advance a project in a location outside of an urbanized area that has a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census;3. A federally recognized Indian Tribe; 4. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.