TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
THROUGH: Brian Freeman, AICP, MPO Staff Director
FROM: Mark Vietze, Senior Planner
DATE: November 4, 2025
SUBJECT: Approval of a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) for a Section 5311 Grant
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
Each year, Indian River County receives transit operating assistance under 49 USC Ch. 53, Section 5311 (also known as the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program) through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). These grant funds have been passed through to the Senior Resource Association (SRA), Indian River County’s designated transit service provider.
According to federal regulations, Formula Grants for Rural Areas funds may be used to provide transit service to rural or small urban areas. Such transit service includes fixed route service (GoLine) and demand-response service (Community Coach).
ANALYSIS
For FY 2025/26, $44,809 in Section 5311 funds are allocated to the County. In this case, the grant has a 50% nonfederal match requirement for operating assistance. Matching funds will consist of $22,404.50 from the state Public Transportation Block Grant and $22,404.50 from the County’s normal transit allocation. No additional local funds are necessary.
While Section 5311 funds are federal grant funds, FDOT administers the Section 5311 program within the state of Florida. In order to receive these funds, the BCC must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT, a copy of which is attached to this staff report (Attachment 2).
The County receives most of its transit funding through the federal Section 5307 (Urban Area) grant program. Because a portion of Indian River County is designated as rural, the County is also eligible to receive transit funding through the Section 5311 (Rural Area) grant progra...
Click here for full text