Autauga County commits $206,772 local match to pursue federal rural transit grant

The Autauga County Commission voted July 2 to apply for federal and state Section 5311 rural transit funding and committed $206,772 in local non‑federal matching funds for Fiscal Year 2025.

Resolutions No. 2024‑24 and No. 2024‑25, adopted by unanimous vote, authorize the county to file grant applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Alabama Department of Transportation for administration, planning, capital and operating assistance under 49 U.S.C. § 5311. Resolution 2024‑24 specifies the county's commitment of $206,772 as the local share for operations, administration, planning and capital expenditures tied to the proposed program.

The resolutions also include the Title VI assurances required by the U.S. Department of Transportation and direct the county to adopt disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) policies to seek participation by minority- and women‑owned businesses in project procurements. The commission recorded that participating municipalities will share the local non‑federal match as part of the rural transportation steering committee arrangement.

County officials did not provide a detailed fiscal breakdown of how the $206,772 would be allocated among operating, planning and capital lines during the July 2 meeting; the resolutions state that the local match requirement is 50% for operating expenses and 20% for administration, planning and capital expenses under the program. The commission adopted the resolutions and authorized submission of the grant applications to state and federal agencies.

Next steps: county staff will prepare and file the formal application package with the Alabama Department of Transportation and the FTA program of projects, and will promulgate DBE procurement procedures as required by the grant conditions.