Paratransit vehicle grants available through IDOT
Local agencies, nonprofits urged to apply, awards chosen this fall
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is accepting applications for grants to provide public transportation providers and eligible nonprofit organizations with paratransit vehicles. Municipalities and local governments, as well as nonprofit agencies providing specialized transportation to seniors or individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.
The deadline to apply is Sept. 21.
Through its Consolidated Vehicle Procurement program, IDOT purchases accessible paratransit vehicles on behalf of eligible recipients using various federal funding sources. Applications should be submitted online through IDOT’s transit grant management system at ildot.blackcattransit.com.
Applications from agencies that receive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 or 5311 funds for operation of public transportation will be approved, as long as the information submitted is complete and accurate. Vehicles will be awarded equitably among eligible applicants.
IDOT will evaluate all other applications based on the following criteria:
- Level of existing service.
- Equipment utilization (vehicle miles traveled or number of one-way trips per day).
- Asset maintenance (maintenance policy, preventive maintenance, vehicle files).
- Management capacity (driver training policy, recordkeeping).
- Coordination efforts (notification to other transportation providers, participation in local public transit, human service transportation efforts).
For more information, please contact Zoe Keller, IDOT’s section chief of consolidated vehicle procurement, at Zoe.Keller@Illinois.gov
Awards will be announced this fall.
To learn more about the program, view the short video below.
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Paul Wappel
Maria Castaneda
