September 17, 2025
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) and its partners have awarded communities in Illinois, Hawaii, Ohio, and Maine grants of $700,000 each to undertake community-shaped, innovative demonstration projects that tackle transportation insecurity.
The four demonstration projects were selected from among eight communities across the US who were chosen in an initial round of competitive development grants awarded in June 2024. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of its Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program.
The projects represent a variety of geographic locations and aim to address local, community-focused needs using novel transportation ideas that align with the FTA/USDOT’s emphasis on safety, innovation, and economic competitiveness. CTS and its partners will continue working with the awardees to help deliver their demonstration projects.
Transportation insecurity refers to a lack of convenient, affordable, or reliable ways to reach needed services. Transportation insecurity can affect the day-to-day experiences of individuals and communities.
Award Recipients
Chicago, IL: Led by the University of Illinois-Chicago, this demonstration will use a combination of vanpooling and limited ride-sharing subsidies to support the mobility of caregivers to children in suburban Chicago. Team members include Illinois Action for Children and Pace.
Mansfield, OH: Led by the Richland County Transit Board, following extensive outreach with employers and employees in Phase 1, this demonstration project will improve transit options for second- and third-shift workers with deviated routing. Team members include the North End Community Improvement Collaborative.
Oahu, HI: Led by the Hawai’i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, this project will facilitate transit and pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements in a geographically isolated part of Honolulu. The project will help low-income women with children by improving access to employment and other opportunities. Team members include the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute.
Southern Maine: Led by Cumberland County Public Health, this demonstration will provide a coordinated, reduced-cost fare card across four transit agencies leveraging multiple community hubs. This project serves a range of riders, including older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing housing insecurity, and people with limited English proficiency. Team members include the Moving Maine Network, the Greater Portland Council of Governments, and 10 community service organizations.
Award recipients will undertake the demonstration projects between fall 2025 and fall 2027. During the demonstrations, the MATI team, led by Professor Yingling Fan, will support the project sites in conducting rigorous evaluation of their demonstration. By the conclusion of the demonstrations, the MATI team will produce and publicize final reports detailing project findings.
About MATI
In early 2023, CTS and its partners were awarded $6 million by the FTA to design and lead the MATI program. In June 2024, MATI selected eight demonstration projects across the US to receive $150,000 each to explore strategies to improve people’s mobility and access to daily needs. In July 2025, MATI awarded four small rural communities an additional $400,000 in grants. FTA supports the MATI program and provides guidance but does not participate in project selections.
Learn more and sign up for program updates.
Contact: John Siqveland, CTS Communications Director, 651-746-9250.