For funders
Foundations, employers, hospitals, business improvement districts and public grant programs can fund specific parts of a service: cost categories, rider groups, zones or hours. OpenTransit applies those restrictions to every trip and shows exactly what your dollars paid for.
Restrict precisely
Fund only drivers and fare subsidy, only seniors and riders with disabilities, only one zone, or only shift hours. Caps and match requirements are enforced.
See every dollar
A double-entry ledger records each trip's allocation with the rule behind it. Your portal shows dollars, trips funded, riders reached and equity by zone.
Privacy by design
Funders see counts only. Any zone or cell with fewer than 10 trips is suppressed. No names, phone numbers or individual trips.
Funding source registry
General descriptions of sources programs often pursue. Eligibility for on-demand service varies; every entry needs checking against current rules.
federal · federal grant
FTA Section 5307: Urbanized Area Formula Grants
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds for transit in urbanized areas (population 50,000+), passed through designated recipients.
Typical uses: capital; operating (limited for large urbanized areas); planning. Local match required; share varies by use. Check current FTA guidance.
FTA program pages, 49 U.S.C. 5307 · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYfederal · federal grant
FTA Section 5311: Formula Grants for Rural Areas
FTA formula funds for public transit in rural areas (population under 50,000), administered by states.
Typical uses: operating; capital; administration. Local match required; operating match is typically higher than capital. Check state program rules.
FTA program pages, 49 U.S.C. 5311 · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYfederal · federal grant
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
Federal Highway Administration funds for projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality in nonattainment and maintenance areas; new transit service can qualify for start-up operating assistance.
Typical uses: start-up operating assistance (time-limited); vehicles. Usually 20% non-federal match. Operating support is time-limited.
FHWA CMAQ program guidance · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYstate · state grant
State transit grant programs
State departments of transportation run their own transit operating and innovation grants. Names and rules differ by state.
Typical uses: operating; pilots; senior and disabled transportation. Varies by program.
State DOT program pages (state-specific) · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYprivate · foundation
Local and community foundations
Community foundations and health or anti-poverty funders sometimes fund access-to-jobs or access-to-care transportation.
Typical uses: fare subsidy for target groups; pilot operations; evaluation. Often expect public co-funding and outcome reporting.
General practice; confirm with each funder · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYlocal · business improvement district
Business improvement districts (BIDs)
Assessment-funded districts that may fund circulators serving their commercial area.
Typical uses: circulator operations inside the district; sponsorship. Usually restricted to the district boundary.
General practice; confirm locally · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFYprivate · employer
Employers and institutions (hospitals, campuses)
Large employers sponsor trips for workers, patients or students, often restricted to shift hours or specific sites.
Typical uses: first and last mile to work sites; patient trips. Usually restricted by hours, site or rider group.
General practice; confirm with each sponsor · 2026-11 · confidence mediumVERIFY