This program provides capital assistance to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. Nine rural systems and eight small urban systems rely on this program for replacement and expansion of their rolling stock fleets. This program requires monitoring inventories, preventative maintenance, and use of capital.

Type of Assistance: Capital  

Eligibility: Non-profit and public transit agencies.  

Amounts Available: Varies

Match Requirement: Capital – 80% federal, 20% local  

Application Period: Open

Contact Information

Vacant
Public Transportation Program Management Officer
Phone: (501) 569-2472

This program provides capital assistance for vehicles and specialized equipment to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of transportation dependent individuals. This program requires public participation and equivalency of service under Title VI and the Americans with Disabilities Act. A Program of Projects is developed from an annual application process. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires monitoring and oversight of these projects through quarterly performance reports, insurance documentation, preventative maintenance reporting, and on sight monitoring of equipment and services.

Type of Assistance: Capital

Eligibility: Private nonprofit organizations and public entities that provide transportation services to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Amounts Available: Based on federal formula, approximately $2.7 million per year

Match Requirement: Capital – 80% federal, 20% local

Grant Application Period: The 2024 Application Cycle is currently closed.

Document Downloads:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Click here for a list of frequently asked questions regarding the 5310 program.

State Fiscal Year 2024 Application:

• Currently Closed

Instruction Manual for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Vehicles

• Click here for Adobe Acrobat format.

Pre-Trip Inspection Form

Your driver is required to complete a Pre-Trip Inspection Form.  Your agency may use either a Daily or Weekly Pre-Trip Inspection form. 

• Click here for the Daily Form in Microsoft Excel format.
• Click here for the Weekly Form in Microsoft Excel format. 

Daily Use Trip Reports

You may use this form to record your trip information. You may use another management reporting system, provided that it captures all of the information included in this form.

• Click here for the Daily Use Trip Report in Microsoft Excel format.

Quarterly Performance Monitoring (QPM) Report

• Click here for the Microsoft Excel format.

Vehicle Maintenance Record Booklet

This booklet must be kept updated and in the vehicle at all times.

• Click here for the Word format.
• Click here for the Adobe Acrobat format. 

Membership of Entity’s Governing Board (Disclosure List)

• Click Here for the Microsoft Word format.
• Click Here for the Adobe Acrobat format.

Vehicle Inventory Control Form 

Upon the sale of the vehicle notify the Program Manager, April Washington at (501) 569-2952 or april.washington@ardot.gov to request a populated vehicle inventory control form. This form along with the public notice must be returned prior to requesting the title.

Arkansas Statewide Transit Coordination Plan: May 2018

• Click Here for the Adobe Acrobat format.

Contact Information

All 5310 Agencies: Ms. April Washington
5310 Program Specialist
Email: April.Washington@ardot.gov
Phone: (501) 569-2952 Work Cell: (501) 352-9584

These programs provide planning assistance to areas designated as urbanized areas with populations over 50,000.  While administration of these funds are primarily in the Statewide Planning Section, the Public Transportation Programs Section’s responsibility is to develop a consolidated Unified Planning Work Program budget, apply to FTA for funding, and code funds for ECHO payments and final closeout audit.

Type of Assistance: Planning

Eligibility: Based on federal formula based on information received from the latest census and the State’s urbanized area as compared to the urbanized area of “all” states. 

Amounts Available: Based on federal formula 

Match Requirement: 80% federal, 20% local

Application Period: Annually

This program provides planning, operating, capital, training, and project administration assistance for public and private nonprofit agencies that provide transportation services to the general public. There are nine (9) rural public transportation operators and three private intercity transportation operators now receiving funding from this program. Also, the Public Transportation Programs Section contracts with the Arkansas Transit Association to provide training, technical assistance, and operate the Public Transit Resource Center for rural programs in Arkansas. FTA requires monitoring and oversight of these projects through monthly performance reports, preventative maintenance reporting, vehicles and facilities maintenance, and documentation of compliance with Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) participation, procurement regulations, drug and alcohol testing policies, National Transit Database (NTD) and Transit Asset Management (TAM) reporting.

Type of Assistance: Eligible cost reimbursements for administration, operating, capital and preventive maintenance.

Eligibility: Available to state agencies, local public bodies, non-profit organizations, Indian Tribes and groups, and private operators of public transportation services under contract to local public bodies.

Amounts Available: Based on federal formula   

Match Requirement: Administration, Capital and Preventive Maintenance – 80% federal, 20% local. 
Operating – 50% federal, 50% local

Application Period: Continuous

Contact Information

Daniel Heidelberg: 501-569-4930
Daniel.Heidelberg@ardot.gov

South Central Arkansas Transit (SCAT)
Western Transit System (WTS)
____________________________________________________________________

Johnna Thomas: 501-569-2478
Johnna.Thomas@ardot.gov

Black River Area Development (BRAD)

Eureka Springs Transit
Mid-Delta Lines
North East Arkansas Transit (NEAT)
______________________________________________________________________
Vacant

Greyhound Lines
Jefferson Lines
______________________________________________________________________
Brook Norris: (501) 569-2927
Brook.Norris@ardot.gov
Arkansas Transit Association (ATA)
North Arkansas Transportation Service (NATS)
Ozark Regional Transit (ORT)

Southeast Arkansas Transit (SEAT)

Note: This funding is subject to ongoing Federal budgetary action.

The purpose of the State Safety Oversight program is to oversee safety at rail transit systems. The SSO program is administered by eligible states with rail transit systems in their jurisdiction. FTA provides federal funds through the SSO Formula Grant Program for eligible states to develop or carry out their SSO programs. Under 49 U.S.C. Section 5329(e), as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), FTA is required to certify each state’s program to ensure compliance with MAP-21.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation is the State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) as required by 49 CFR 674, to perform the following duties pursuant to Light Rail operations within the State of Arkansas.

– Provide oversight and technical assistance to the Rail Transit Agency (RTA).
– Ensure all FTA reporting deadlines are met.
– Evaluate effectiveness of RTA safety plan implementation.
– Participate in regular safety meetings.
– Review accident/incident investigations.
– Investigate any allegations of non-compliance with RTA safety plan.
– Perform periodic safety audits and inspections.
– Develop and implement Corrective Action Plan (CAP), if potential hazardous conditions are identified.
– Authority to implement escalation protocols in CAP is not followed or corrections addressed in a timely manner

Contact Information

Danny Chidester
Public Transportation Safety and Security Officer
Email: Danny.Chidester@ardot.gov
Phone: (501) 569-2559

This program provides planning, capital and operating assistance to urban areas that are over 50,000 in population and under 200,000 in population.  While the AHTD is the “designated recipient” of funds, the transit systems receive direct funding from FTA and only require minimum oversight responsibilities.  However, Discretionary funds for capital equipment and busses for urban transportation systems are still administered by the Public Transportation Programs staff.

Type of Assistance: Grants and information.

Eligibility: Funds are allocated by a formula based on information received from the latest census and the State’s urbanized area as compared to the urbanized area of “all” states.

Amounts Available: Approximately $5.5 million annually. 

Match Requirement: Capital – 80% federal; 20% local   Operation – 50% federal; 50% local

Application Period: Annually

Contact Information

Danny Chidester
Public Transportation Safety and Security Officer
Email: Danny.Chidester@ardot.gov
Phone: (501) 569-2559