Community Transportation News

June 2026

If you have comments or questions about community transportation in Massachusetts, please reach out to us anytime at massmobility@dot.state.ma.us. Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce.

This past month, I presented on the work of the Massachusetts Access and Mobility Working Group at the Community Transportation Association of America conference (CTAA Expo). MassDOT Rail and Transit has been working with this cross sector group to help inform an implementation plan for a network of Regional Mobility Managers in Massachusetts. A Regional Mobility Manager would support expanding access to needed transportation resources for all -- but particularly older adults and people with disabilities. The group wrapped up its first phase of work on June 4th and will be reviewing a draft implementation plan during July and August.

At the conference, I also met a wide array of community transportation providers, mobility managers, and advocates. I attended sessions that included presentations by mobility centers in both Washington State (Hopelink) and Virginia (Rappahonack Regional Transportation Collaborative Mobility Center) and how they work with nonprofit, public, and municipal transportation providers to help residents in their areas access the transportation services they need. 

Stay in touch!
Maria Foster, Statewide Mobility Lead

In this issue

• MArtap Opportunities
• Funding Opportunities
• Resources and Reports
• WMTAN Network Forum
• Rural Transit Webinar
• SHSP: Listening Sessions
• Two national surveys

Massachusetts Regional Transit Assistance Opportunities

Helping Hand Mini Grants
MArtap's Helping Hand Mini Grant Program will officially open later this month. The Helping Hand Mini Grant program awards eligible recipients grants of up to $1,000 (a 10% local match is required) to fund transportation related capital costs. Though all participants can apply to the Helping Hand program, rural/small urban providers are prioritized.

MArtap Scholarship Assistance
MArtap offers scholarships to offset costs associated with professional development for staff of rural and small urban transit service providers. Check the MArtap scholarship page for eligibility information and application. MArtap scholarships cover registration and travel expenses to attend relevant conferences. Upcoming conferences to consider attending if relevant to your work include: National RTAP Tribal and Rural Transit Mini-Conference in Window Rock, AZ from June 29-July 1; USAging Conference and Tradeshow in San Diego from July 18-21; National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) 2026 National Regional Transportation Conference in Atlanta from July 20-22; Association of Travel Instruction (ATI) Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO from July 28-30.

Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a $28.5 million notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) via the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grant program. Funding is provided to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning. 

Uber Transit Innovation Fund is awarding $50,000 to 20 additional transit agencies and municipalities across the US to create or expand on-demand mobility solutions.
Eligible projects can include: first-mile/last-mile, supplementing microtransit, transit desert expansion projects, guaranteed ride home programs, and more. Applications are due June 30 and funding must be used by December 31, 2026.

Resources and Reports

Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and MeVa Transit have worked together to expand age friendly transit and are using the framework of the Hero’s Journey to chart the user experience from the perspective of the rider. MVPC wrote a brief blog post on the approach and how it is informing information design, shelter and seating, and on-board amenities for users of MeVa.

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative has written a year in review on ReiMAgine Aging 2030: The Massachusetts Plan highlighting programs, projects, and collaborations (including transportation projects!) that align with Massachusetts' goal of instituting age friendly practices across a broad range of strategic priorities.

The Association of Mobility Managers has compiled a list of helpful training resources from around the transit industry, designed specifically for mobility managers.

Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network Forum 2026

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and its partners in the Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network (WMTAN) will host their fourth annual forum on Friday June 12th. The forum brings together advocates, transportation providers, elected officials, and other interested in improving transportation services and funding for the four counties in western Massachusetts. Registration is free.

Rural Transit Webinar

On June 15th at 12:00PM, the Transportation Research Board will host a free webinar, Can Rural Microtransit Work?. This webinar will address the unique challenges for rural providers who cover larger service areas with lower population densities, longer distances, and areas of persistent poverty. This webinar will report on TCRP Synthesis 178: Microtransit Solutions in Rural Communities: On-Demand Alternatives to Dial-a-Ride Services and Unproductive Coverage Routes.

Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Listening Sessions

UMass Transportation Center is hosting a series of listening sessions to gather stakeholder feedback as the process for updating the Strategic Highway Safety Plan gets underway. The website has information on how to register for the listening sessions, reviews the previous safety plan, and gathers additional ideas from stakeholders who are not able to attend. Both in person and online options for participation are available. 

Two national surveys

In cooperation with the University of Texas at Austin, CCAM-TAC is seeking feedback to understand trends and changes to how providers of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation manage their services. 

Transit Cooperative Research Program is researching how and why rural and tribal transit agencies initiate and sustain partnerships, the type and scope of these partnerships, and how rural transit agencies and their ridership benefit from partnerships. As a part of the research, they are surveying rural transit agencies, state DOTs, and transportation professionals to learn more about these vital partnerships. 

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