FTA Opens $686M in Grants to Make Transit Stations ADA-Accessible
March 1, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The Federal Transit Administration published a notice of funding opportunity on March 2 for $686 million in competitive grants under the All Stations Accessibility Program. Transit agencies, states, and local governments have until May 1, 2026 to apply.
The program — created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with $1.75 billion authorized through FY2026 — funds capital improvements that make legacy rail stations fully accessible to riders with disabilities, parents with strollers, and older adults who cannot navigate stairs.
What Gets Funded
Eligible projects include elevator installations, platform modifications, ramp construction, wayfinding systems, and other structural changes needed to bring pre-ADA transit stations into compliance. The program specifically targets older heavy rail, light rail, and commuter rail stations built before the Americans with Disabilities Act took effect in 1990.
FTA has already awarded inaugural grants under the program. Major transit systems including those in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia received early-round funding to address some of the nation's most heavily used but least accessible stations.
How to Compete for This Round
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov (funding opportunity ID: FTA-2026-001-TPM-ASAP). FTA evaluates proposals on project readiness, demonstration of need, and the number of riders who will benefit from improved access.
Transit agencies should note that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorization runs through 2026, making this potentially the final major competitive round under the current funding stream. Agencies that have been deferring accessibility capital projects should treat this deadline seriously.
For questions, contact Thomas Wilson in the FTA Office of Program Management at thomas.wilson@dot.gov or (202) 366-2053. The full notice is posted in the Federal Register. Grant seekers can find additional federal funding opportunities and deadline tracking on the Granted blog.