Grants designed specifically for transportation of the elderly and disabled were established in 1975. Subsequent transportation legislation in 1991, 1998 and 2005 reaffirmed the grant program for elderly transportation.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, awards and administers the grants.
The purpose of these grants is to fill the special needs of the elderly for public transportation that are not met by other systems. For example, it may provide funds to purchase vans for an on-call service.
The grant funds may only be used for capital expenses, not operating assistance; although there is a pilot program to fund operating costs in a few locations.
Grants are awarded annually to each state based on the number of elderly and disabled individuals in the state. The states give the money to local governments or nonprofit organizations that implement transportation programs.
