Federal Funding of Transportation Projects

Transportation Planning and Programming Guide

Distributing federal funds

The Met Council receives federal funding to support transit in the Twin Cities area. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides most funds that support locally planned, constructed and operated public transportation systems.

The Transportation Planning and Programming Guide (PDF) describes the transportation planning process, roles, and responsibilities.

Managing federally-funded projects

The Met Council is responsible for managing federally-funded transit projects, in accordance with federal requirements. Some projects are implemented by subrecipients (or subgrantees) through FTA financial assistance awarded by the Met Council.

To ensure those projects are properly managed, our staff provide expertise and resources, and developed a guide to managing federal grants (PDF) that provides grant subrecipients and our project staff with guidelines on all aspects of the grant process, from initial application through invoicing and reporting requirements.

More about federal grants management

Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) bill into law. The law will substantially increase infrastructure investment in the region. The Metropolitan Council will work closely with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to manage IIJA funds, including through the Regional Solicitation.

More about the IIJA from the Minnesota Department of Transportation

Urbanized Area Formula

The Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (49 U.S.C. 5307) makes federal resources available to urbanized areas and to governors for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas and for transportation-related planning. An urbanized area is an incorporated area with a population of 50,000 or more that is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.