NEWS

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $15.6 Million for Fully Accessible Transit Vans for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Apr 29, 2026

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a total of over $15.6 million through MassDOT’s FY26 Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP) for municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities, and nonprofit organizations towards fully accessible vans and minivans to enhance mobility for older adults and people with disabilities as part of a celebration held at the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission in Leominster. These grants, which total $15,661,986, will enable 27 organizations to purchase a total of 131 vehicles.

The full list of recipients can be found here.

MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division operates the Community Transit Grant Program annually. In addition to the vehicle cycle, organizations can also apply for operating and mobility management projects. The FY26 CTGP operating and mobility management awards were announced on March 20.

Applicants can request a range of minivans and cutaway vehicles varying in size to accommodate 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.

MassDOT focused awards on replacing older and high-mileage models to maintain a state of good repair, along with awarding vans to expand fleets where need has increased. Organizations that were awarded are as follows:

  • Associates for Human Services, Wise Adult Day Health was awarded 2 vans.
  • Berkshire Regional Transit Authority was awarded 4 vans.
  • Brockton Area Transit Authority was awarded 8 vans.
  • Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority was awarded 15 vans.
  • City of Boston was awarded 2 vans.
  • Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Agency was awarded 17 vans.
  • Lowell Regional Transit Authority was awarded 5 vans.
  • Marion Council on Aging was awarded 2 vans.
  • Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority was awarded 3 vans.
  • MetroWest Regional Transit Authority was awarded 12 vans.
  • Milton Council on Aging was awarded 1 van.
  • Montachusett Regional Transit Authority was awarded 14 vans.
  • Nantucket Regional Transit Authority was awarded 1 van.
  • Northeast Independent Living Program was awarded 1 van.
  • Pioneer Valley Transit Authority was awarded 14 vans.
  • S.C.M. COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION was awarded 2 vans.
  • South Shore Community Action Council, Inc.  was awarded 5 vans.
  • Southeastern Regional Transit Authority was awarded 4 vans.
  • The Arc of Opportunity in North Central Massachusetts, Inc. was awarded 2 vans.
  • The Nemasket Group was awarded 2 vans.
  • Town of Bedford was awarded 1 van.
  • Town of Great Barrington (South County Connector) was awarded 6 vans.
  • Town of Sandisfield was awarded 1 van.
  • Town of Ware (Quaboag Connector) was awarded 1 van.
  • Town of Winchendon Council on Aging was awarded 1 van.
  • Watertown Department of Senior Services was awarded 1 van.
  • Worcester Regional Transit Authority was awarded 4 vans.

To fund the awards, MassDOT uses both Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 funding, as well as state Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) funding. According to federal regulations, 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.

For more information about the Community Transit Grant Program, visit the Community Transit Grant Program website.