Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2026 007 TPM FERRYPILOT
Apply for FTA 2026 007 TPM FERRYPILOT
- The DOT - Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.538.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Through this program, FTA is making about $98 million available to support public ferry systems that want to reduce emissions by transitioning to electric or other low-emitting ferry technologies. The core focus is on capital investments that directly enable cleaner ferry operations, with an emphasis on real-world deployment rather than planning-only efforts.
Funding is intended for capital projects, specifically the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels and the related infrastructure needed to operate and maintain those vessels. In practice, that can include the vessel acquisition itself as well as supporting shore-side and facility upgrades that make the new technology workable, such as charging or fueling equipment, electrical service upgrades, and other infrastructure that is clearly tied to deploying and operating an electric or low-emitting ferry. The opportunity is structured as a pilot program, which signals that FTA is looking for implementable projects that can demonstrate performance, reliability, and emissions benefits in active service.
Eligibility is tied to federal public transportation funding categories and to operation of a public ferry system. For urbanized areas, eligible applicants include any recipient that is eligible for FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants under 49 U.S.C. 5307, as well as States and federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in an urbanized area. For rural areas, eligibility extends to any recipient that is eligible under 49 U.S.C. 5311 (Formula Grants for Rural Areas), as well as States and federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in a rural area. The eligible applicant types listed for this notice include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and other eligible entities consistent with the statutory language and FTA program requirements.
This opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 20.538 and is categorized under Transportation. It is a competitive, discretionary grant (as opposed to a formula allocation), meaning applications are evaluated against program criteria and selected for award based on merit and alignment with program goals. FTA indicates it expects to make about 5 awards under this round. The notice lists an award ceiling of $0, which typically means a maximum award size is not specified in the summary fields and applicants should rely on the full NOFO for any limits, match expectations, and selection criteria.
The funding opportunity number for this announcement is FTA 2026 007 TPM FERRYPILOT. The posting (creation) date is April 6, 2026, and the original application closing date is May 11, 2026. Applicants considering submission should plan around that deadline and ensure their proposed scope clearly fits within eligible capital activities for electric or low-emitting ferries and the infrastructure required to support them.
FY 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (FTA) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, a discretionary (competitive) grant program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to help public ferry systems reduce emissions by transitioning to electric or other low-emitting ferry technologies. The emphasis is on capital investments that enable cleaner ferry operations, with a focus on real-world deployment rather than planning-only work.
3) How much funding is available in this round?
FTA is making about $98 million available under this round of the program.
4) Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity. That means applications are evaluated against program criteria and selected for award based on merit and alignment with the program's goals, rather than being distributed by formula.
5) Approximately how many awards does FTA expect to make?
FTA indicates it expects to make about 5 awards in this funding round.
6) What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Funding is intended for capital projects that directly support the transition to electric or low-emitting ferry operations. Specifically, eligible project types include:
- Purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels
- Related infrastructure needed to operate and maintain those vessels
7) What does "related infrastructure" mean in this context?
Related infrastructure refers to shore-side and facility upgrades that make deploying and operating electric or low-emitting ferry technology feasible. Examples mentioned include charging or fueling equipment, electrical service upgrades, and other infrastructure that is clearly tied to deploying and operating an electric or low-emitting ferry.
8) Does the program focus on planning studies, or on implementation?
The program emphasizes implementable, real-world deployment projects rather than planning-only efforts. As a pilot program, it signals interest in projects that can demonstrate performance, reliability, and emissions benefits in active service.
9) Who is eligible to apply in urbanized areas?
For urbanized areas, eligible applicants include:
- Any recipient eligible for FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants under 49 U.S.C. 5307
- States that operate a public ferry system in an urbanized area
- Federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in an urbanized area
10) Who is eligible to apply in rural areas?
For rural areas, eligibility extends to:
- Any recipient eligible under 49 U.S.C. 5311 (Formula Grants for Rural Areas)
- States that operate a public ferry system in a rural area
- Federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in a rural area
11) What types of government entities are listed as eligible applicant types?
The notice lists the following eligible applicant types:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other eligible entities consistent with the statutory language and FTA program requirements
12) Does an applicant need to operate a ferry system to be eligible?
Eligibility is tied to operation of a public ferry system and to specific federal public transportation funding categories (49 U.S.C. 5307 for urbanized areas and 49 U.S.C. 5311 for rural areas). The notice also explicitly references States and federally recognized Tribes that operate a public ferry system in the relevant area type (urbanized or rural).
13) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 20.538.
14) What category does this grant fall under?
This opportunity is categorized under Transportation.
15) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FTA 2026 007 TPM FERRYPILOT.
16) What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The posting (creation) date is April 6, 2026, and the original application closing date is May 11, 2026.
17) Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $0. In this context, that typically indicates a maximum award size is not specified in the summary fields, and applicants should rely on the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for any limits.
18) Where should applicants look for details like match requirements, limits, and selection criteria?
Based on the information provided, applicants should refer to the full NOFO for details such as any funding limits, match expectations, and the criteria used to evaluate and select projects.
19) What kinds of outcomes is FTA looking for from funded projects?
As a pilot program with an emphasis on deployment, FTA is looking for projects that can be put into service and demonstrate performance, reliability, and emissions benefits through active operation of electric or low-emitting ferry technologies.
20) What should applicants keep in mind when defining project scope?
Applicants should ensure the proposed scope clearly fits within eligible capital activities for electric or low-emitting ferries and includes only the infrastructure required to support deployment, operation, and maintenance of those vessels, as described in the opportunity summary.
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