The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced a total of over $14.8 million through MassDOT’s Fiscal Year 2025 Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP) for municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities, and nonprofit organizations. The funding will go toward fully accessible vans and mini-vans to enhance mobility for older adults and people with disabilities. These grants will enable 30 organizations to purchase a total of 115 vehicles.
This year’s applications for CTGP funding were competitive, with 54 organizations requesting a total of 250 vehicles. Winning awardees were selected with a focus on organizations replacing older and high-mileage vehicles to maintain a state of good repair, along with compelling stories from applicants to expand fleets where need has increased.
MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division manages the Community Transit Grant Program annually. In addition to the vehicle cycle, organizations can also apply for operating and mobility management projects. The Fiscal Year 2025 CTGP operating and mobility management awards are funded with both Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 funding, as well as state Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) funding. Applicants can request a range of minivans and cutaway vehicles, varying in size to accommodate a range of fleet needs. All models are wheelchair-accessible.
Vehicles available through this grant program include a 6-passenger minivan with ramp, 6-passenger electric minivan with lift, 8-passenger cutaway with lift, 12-passenger cutaway with lift, 14-passenger cutaway with lift, 16-passenger cutaway with lift, and 14-passenger low-floor minibus with ramp.
According to federal rules, federal 5310 funds can pay for up to 85% of the cost of each vehicle. Massachusetts’ Councils on Aging, nonprofits, and municipalities must pay a 15% match. The state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities are eligible for fully-funded vehicles with state MAP funds providing a 15% match.
List of Awards
| Organization name | Number of Vehicles Awarded |
|---|---|
| Berkshire Regional Transit Authority | 2 |
| Braintree Department of Elder Affairs | 1 |
| Brockton Area Transit Authority | 6 |
| Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority | 15 |
| City of Lynn | 1 |
| City of Quincy Council on Aging | 4 |
| Fairhaven Council on Aging | 1 |
| Franklin Regional Transit Authority | 3 |
| Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority | 9 |
| Lowell Regional Transit Authority | 6 |
| Montachusett Regional Transit Authority | 11 |
| Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority | 4 |
| Melrose Council on Aging | 1 |
| Merrimack Valley Transit | 9 |
| MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) | 5 |
| Nantucket Regional Transit Authority | 2 |
| Pioneer Valley Transit Authority | 11 |
| Quaboag Connector (Town of Ware) | 2 |
| SCM Transportation | 1 |
| South County Connector (Town of Great Barrington) | 1 |
| South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. | 1 |
| Southeastern Regional Transit Authority | 5 |
| The Arc of Greater Brockton | 1 |
| Town of Blackstone, Council on Aging | 1 |
| Town of Burlington Council on Aging | 1 |
| Town of Holbrook | 1 |
| Wenham Council on Aging | 1 |
| West Springfield Council on Aging | 1 |
| Westport Council On Aging | 1 |
| Worcester Regional Transit Authority | 7 |
For more information about the Community Transit Grant Program, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/community-transit-grant-program