Downstate Cooperative Transportation Grant Program

The Downstate Cooperative Transportation Grant Program is a competitive State of Illinois grant administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The program is authorized under Public Act 104-466 and 30 ILCS 740 and is identified in the Catalog of State Financial Assistance as CSFA Number 494-80-4113. The program is GATA exempt under PA-102-1092. Its purpose is to support partnerships between eligible public transit agencies and educational institutions that improve transportation access for students. For fiscal year 2027, the program identifies $15,000,000 in funding. The source does not state an individual minimum or maximum award amount or an expected number of awards. Funding is intended for eligible costs directly associated with approved cooperative transportation programs. Eligible activities may include transportation services delivered through the cooperative program, specialized transportation for students with disabilities during off-peak service hours, vocational and career education transportation, transportation planning, scheduling and coordination activities, transportation equipment, infrastructure, and other capital needs necessary to implement an approved program. Cooperative programs may not operate exclusive school bus service in direct competition with private school bus operators, consistent with 49 CFR Part 605. In addition, Cooperative program funding cannot be used to supplement an Illinois Safe Routes to School project when an applicant has a shortfall in completing that project. Eligible applicants are public transit agencies participating under 30 ILCS 740. Applicants must provide public transportation services and have the administrative and operational capacity necessary to implement, track, and report their student reduced-fare program. Proposed programs are expected to involve educational partners. The application instructions specifically identify public-school districts, regional offices of education, public career centers, and public technical education centers as potential participating or supporting educational partners. The source does not state a cost-share or matching requirement. Applications must include OP-3, Description of Applicant's Organization, and a detailed scope explaining transportation delivery, service availability, vehicles and operators, and programmatic readiness. The scope must identify the roles and responsibilities of proposed educational partners, explain how the partnership will support transportation delivery, describe how students will be enrolled, and explain how student ridership will be tracked. Applicants must also provide documentation demonstrating transportation need and feasibility, a list of proposed educational partners, information relevant to the Areas of Mobility and Economic Hardship Index, and letters of support from educational partners or other appropriate community partners. Communities that received Illinois Safe Routes to School funding within the preceding two years must demonstrate a coordinated plan incorporating both programs to maximize student access to school and must explain how any Safe Routes project shortfall will be covered. Complete applications will be reviewed competitively by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Detailed Scope category is worth 30 points, Demonstrated Transportation Need and Feasibility is worth 35 points, Educational Partner Participation and Community Support is worth 25 points, and Areas of Mobility and Economic Hardship Index is worth 10 points, for a maximum possible score of 100 points. Mobility and economic hardship considerations may include household income, housing cost burden, employment conditions, travel time, vehicle availability, traffic intensity, and access to reliable transportation. Applications will be ranked according to total score. Funding selections will also consider available funding and overall program demand. IDOT reserves the right to select meaningful projects that best meet the program's intended purpose, fund an application in full or at a reduced amount, and establish an award limitation based on the number of qualified applications received. The identified application window for Agency ID 27-4113-001 opens September 1, 2026 and closes October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline is identified in the source. No recurring application schedule, award notification date, approval or disapproval timeframe, renewal process, or appeal process is stated. The agreement term will be five years from the date of award. The program was published August 31, 2026. The listed agency contact is David J. Schafer at 217-782-4981 and david.schafer@illinois.gov. The headquarters office is located at 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62764. No program website or direct PDF link is supplied in the source. The source also does not identify previous recipients, example projects, specific reporting requirements, audit requirements, recordkeeping requirements, or additional award procedures.

Prioritize Demonstrated Transportation Need and Feasibility because it is worth 35 points, followed by Detailed Scope at 30 points and Educational Partner Participation and Community Support at 25 points. Clearly document transportation barriers and program feasibility. Define each educational partner's responsibilities and explain student enrollment and ridership tracking. Applicants with recent Safe Routes to School funding should demonstrate coordination between the programs and explain separately how any SRTS shortfall will be covered because Cooperative program funding cannot supplement the Safe Routes project.