The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the availability of approximately $686 million in competitive funding, through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), to improve accessibility at transit stations.
The funding will support the modernization of some of the country’s oldest and busiest rail transit stations and adapt them to the needs of American families. Project proposals must be submitted electronically by May 1, 2026.
“As part of President Donald Trump’s America First agenda, USDOT is ensuring that infrastructure projects prioritize the safety, efficiency, and well-being of American families. Ensuring easy access to transportation systems for young families with strollers and for seniors who use wheelchairs is an investment whose benefits will be felt directly in communities,” said Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy.
The FTA is making competitive funding available through the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 budgets for transit agencies to fund investment projects aimed at repairing, improving, modifying, modernizing, or relocating station infrastructure or facilities. The goal is to make stations more accessible and user-friendly for families and people with disabilities, including those who use strollers or wheelchairs.
Priority Projects for Improving Station Accessibility
The call for proposals (NOFO) establishes a series of clear priorities for awarding funding, emphasizing direct impact on users and implementation efficiency.
Thus, priority is given to projects that bring real benefits to families and communities by improving access to transportation for families with young children and facilitating connections to workplaces, medical services, recreational activities, or commercial areas.
Improving wayfinding at stations also plays an important role, through the introduction of guidance and signage systems accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, such as clear and easy-to-understand instructions, visible markings, synchronized audio and visual announcements, and intuitive information panels.
At the same time, projects aimed at reducing costs and increasing efficiency are encouraged, through rapid implementation solutions and the organization of work so that execution time and resources used are optimized.
The mission of the Federal Transit Administration is to improve communities across the U.S. by developing public transit, while also providing safety oversight and technical assistance to strengthen industry standards.
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