Office of Public Transit

Funding applications

Consolidated Transit Funding Application
Iowa's Consolidated Transit Funding Application is used by all transit agencies to apply for STA funds and federal 5310, 5311, 5316 and 5317 funds. Small urban and regional transit systems, along with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), a rural provider in Polk County, also use this process to apply for state administered federal transit assistance under the 5311 program. Any system applying for statewide 5309 capital earmarked funds must include its request in the consolidated application. The consolidated application also requests information on expected direct-funded federal transit assistance grants for large urban transit systems under the 5307 program. Any individual earmarks from the 5309 capital program for all transit systems should also be included.

View application materials


State Transit Assistance (STA) Special Project Application
The rules for Iowa’s STA program provide that the bulk of the funding goes out by formula to the designated public transit systems. It also provides that $300,000 are set-aside each year for special projects to improve transit in the state of Iowa. Individual special projects for the purpose of supporting start-up of new coordination activities. This will be in addition to the continuing use of these funds for statewide or emergency projects, and funds not needed for special projects can still be moved into the formula portion of the program. The special projects will be to help transit systems respond to needs identified by human service agencies, with preference given to projects involving match coming from the human services side. Projects must involve open-to-the-public services. Projects would allow start-up funding, until the services have a chance to be reflected in the STA formula.

Applications are reviewed with the Iowa Transportation Coordination Council, and may be submitted anytime during the year.

View application materials


Iowa’s Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP)
Iowa DOT's Office of Systems Planning conducts an annual competitive application process for this program. ICAAP supports projects designed to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Highway, transit and trails projects, as well as educational campaigns, are eligible and evaluated on the basis of projected impact on congestion and air quality. Local applications are due to the Office of Systems Planning by Oct. 1, for funding that is available approximately one year later. Projects do not need to be in the TIP/STIP at the time of initial application. Projects selected to receive ICAAP funding are usually recommended for approval to the Iowa Transportation Commission in February, to allow for inclusion in the next year’s TIP/STIP.

Visit the Iowa DOT's Office of Systems Planning website.


Transit Capital Match Loan Program (Amoco Loan)
Amoco Loan applications may be submitted at anytime during the year. The Iowa DOT's Office of Public Transit periodically announces the amount of uncommitted Amoco Loan funds available and encourages transit systems to apply. The application is in the form of a letter, requesting the loan and proposing a repayment schedule, which may be subject to negotiation. The request is also required to estimate the energy conservation benefit of the project to be funded. Loan decisions are made by the Office of Public Transit.

View application materials