FTA Opens $686 Million for Transit Station Accessibility Upgrades
March 23, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
The Federal Transit Administration has opened applications for $686 million in competitive grants through its All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), funding capital and planning projects to bring legacy rail systems into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applications are due May 1, 2026, with approximately 20 awards expected.
Pre-ADA Rail Stations Are the Target
The program addresses a specific and persistent gap in American transit infrastructure: rail stations built before the 1990 ADA that have never been fully retrofitted for accessibility. Eligible applicants include transit operators designated as FTA fund recipients that operate or allocate funding to legacy fixed-guideway rail systems — effectively, any city or state transit authority running stations that predate modern accessibility requirements.
Eligible project types include capital improvements such as elevators, ramps, tactile warning strips, platform modifications, and wayfinding systems, as well as planning projects to assess accessibility needs across entire station networks. The program is authorized under Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
May 1 Deadline and Application Details
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by May 1, 2026. FTA expects to issue approximately 20 awards from this round. Eligible applicant categories include county governments, state governments, city or township governments, and other designated transit recipients.
Given the program's focus on legacy systems, the strongest applications will come from transit agencies operating older infrastructure — systems like New York's MTA, Boston's MBTA, Philadelphia's SEPTA, and Chicago's CTA, where pre-ADA stations remain significant barriers to equitable transit access.
An Opening for Accessibility Advocates and Engineering Firms
For disability advocacy organizations that have pushed for station upgrades deferred due to cost, this $686 million pool creates concrete leverage. Engineering firms and accessibility consultants specializing in ADA compliance should connect with local transit authorities now to support applications ahead of the May 1 deadline. The program contact is Thomas Wilson at the FTA Office of Program Management (Thomas.Wilson@dot.gov). For broader coverage of federal infrastructure grants, visit the Granted blog.