Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Vehicle replacement grant - rural

The purpose of the Rural Public Transit Vehicle Replacement Grant is to assist in financing the replacement of public transit vehicles that are utilized in the operations of public transit services in Greater Minnesota.

This grant opportunity includes both State of Minnesota and Federal Transit Administration funds that are administered by the MnDOT Office of Transit and Active Transportation.  As part of the Public Transit Participation Program, this application represents an opportunity to apply for funding that may include but are not limited to the following types of federal funds, Bus and Bus Facilities (Section 5339), Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, and State of Minnesota funding, and other federal discretionary opportunities.

Eligibility

Rural subrecipients with a current public transit operating agreement with MnDOT under Minn. Stat. 174.24 are eligible to apply for the 2026 Rural Replacement Vehicle Grant Program.

Timeline

  • May 1, 2025: Application period opens
  • May 7, 2025: Application guidance webinar
  • June 30, 2025: Applications deadline
  • Early 2026: Awards announced

Application process

Applications must be completed and submitted online through the BlackCat Transit Data Management System.

Step 1: Starting an application

  • Log into the BlackCat system
  • Choose Applications
  • Select 2025 Application for 2026 Rural Vehicle Replacement Grant

Step 2: Complete the required application forms

  • Download, complete, and upload all the required forms to your application in BlackCat.

Step 3: Submit

  • Check the necessary boxes in the application, then choose the submit button by June 30, 2025.

Step 5: Notify

  • Email your project manager and copy Gary Taft to notify them that you have completed the 2026 vehicle replacement application.

Guidance

We'll hold one webinar at 1 p.m. on May 7, 2025, to go over the application requirements and demonstrate how the forms work. We'll email you an invitation to our webinar.

After you apply

All revenue vehicles in the State of Minnesota utilized by the rural transit systems will be prioritized and ranked for replacement consideration based on age, miles, and lifetime maintenance costs by our transit asset management coordinator.

Notification

Award notifications will be sent in the first quarter of 2026.

More information

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13.03, subd. 1, all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential. The responsible authority in every government entity shall keep records containing government data in such an arrangement and condition as to make them easily accessible for convenient use. Photographic, photostatic, microphotographic, or microfilmed records shall be considered as accessible for convenient use regardless of the size of such records.