Legal Definitions - Urban Mass Transit Administration

The Urban Mass Transit Administration (UMTA) is a unit within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Its main responsibility is to provide grants to states, regional and local governmental bodies, and public agencies to acquire or improve capital equipment and facilities for urban mass-transit systems. The agency also provides technical assistance and funds for demonstration projects, educational grants for urban mass-transit research and training, and training grants to mass-transit systems for training. Additionally, UMTA awards grants for transit operations in nonurban areas.

• A city wants to improve its bus system by purchasing new buses and building new bus stops. They can apply for a grant from UMTA to help fund these improvements.
• A public agency wants to test a new type of electric bus to see if it is more efficient than their current fleet. They can apply for a demonstration project grant from UMTA to help cover the costs of testing.
• A university wants to offer a course on urban mass-transit planning. They can apply for an educational grant from UMTA to help fund the development and implementation of the course.

These examples illustrate how UMTA provides funding and support for various aspects of urban mass-transit systems, including equipment, facilities, research, and training.