Closed
Source verified July 30, 2026
Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream
Transit planning and design for rural communities
Funding available
$ 50,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream supports eligible public, nonprofit and Indigenous applicants in rural and small communities with grants of up to $50,000. It funds transit planning for new or improved transit solutions, including public engagement, needs assessments, feasibility or viability studies, and surveys to assess routes or travel modes.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Transit planning activities toward the development of new or expanded transit solutions.
- Public engagement, needs assessments, feasibility or viability studies, and surveys to assess routes or modes of travel.
- Collaboration between multiple rural municipalities within a region.
Documents Needed
- Letter of support from project partners, financial contributors, community organizations and/or other orders of government, if applicable.
- Proof of incorporation, including articles of incorporation, if applicable.
- Resolution of the band council confirming that the applicant is responsible for transit services for its community, if applicable.
- Letter confirming the support and mandate of the Indigenous governing organization.
- Letter from the community where the transit solution is operated confirming support, including from the Indigenous governing organization, confirming that the applicant is responsible for transit services in the community, if applicable.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- A provincial or territorial government.
- A municipal or regional government created by or under provincial or territorial statute.
- A public sector body created by or under provincial or territorial statute or by regulation, or wholly-owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government.
- A federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization or charity.
- An Indigenous benefiting organization or recipient, including a band council as defined in section 2 of the Indian Act, a First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement with Canada, which has been ratified by federal legislation, a First Nation, Inuit or Métis government created by federal, provincial, or territorial legislation that includes a governance structure, a federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to improve Indigenous outcomes, and an Indigenous development corporation.
Who is not eligible
- Individuals and private citizens.
- Federal entities, including federal Crown corporations.
- Private sector entities.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects underway, expenditures incurred and contracts signed before receiving federal approval are not eligible, except costs related to Indigenous consultations, which may be retroactively eligible dating back one year prior to the application’s submission date.
Eligible geographic areas
- Rural and small communities, including small towns and villages within a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).
Selection criteria
- Applications are examined and evaluated against the Fund's merit criteria described in the applicant guides.
How to apply
- During intake periods, applications will be accepted through Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's Applicant portal.
- Applicants should consult the Applicant and the Step-by-step Guides for further information on eligibility and for clear instructions on how to submit an application.
- All eligible applicants are invited to apply by creating an Applicant Account on the HICC Applicant Portal.
- After registration, applicants will be able to access the applications for both the Capital Projects and Planning and Design Projects streams and submit their application(s) through the Portal.
- If applicants are unable to apply through the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s Applicant Portal or encounter other technical difficulties, they may reach out to the CRM support team by email at crmsupport-soutiengrc@infc.gc.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Applicants will be informed if their projects have been successful.
- If successful, the recipient will need to complete a grant agreement with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to receive the funding.
- The grant agreement will require the completion of a final progress report.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream Program
What is the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream?
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream supports eligible public, nonprofit and Indigenous applicants in rural and small communities with grants of up to $50,000. It funds transit planning for new or improved transit solutions, including public engagement, needs assessments, feasibility or viability studies, and surveys to assess routes or travel modes.
How much funding can be received?
Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream Funds up to $50,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream program?
To be eligible for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream program, you must:
The applicant must be a legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
The applicant must be in good standing with the Government of Canada.
The project must support transit planning activities toward the development of new or expanded transit solutions.
What expenses are eligible under Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream?
Transit planning activities toward the development of new or expanded transit solutions.
Public engagement, needs assessments, feasibility or viability studies, and surveys to assess routes or modes of travel.
Collaboration between multiple rural municipalities within a region.
Who can I contact for more information about the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream?
You can contact Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) by email at RTSF-FSTCR@infc.gc.ca.
Where is the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream available?
The Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream program is available across Canada.
Is the Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Rural Transit Solutions Fund: Planning and Design Projects Stream is a Grant and Funding