Frequently Asked Questions
If an entity has received a previous TOP award, are they eligible to apply again? If so, would a prior awardee be competitive?
Yes, previous or existing TOP grant recipients can apply again. All applications are competitive.
How do we handle partner agencies in the EOI?
Applicants can mention that their agency is proposing to use a partner(s) to complete the project submitted; they should ensure they have spoken with the potential partner agency prior to submitting the EOI to confirm they are willing to be a partner.
Will the EOI presentation be made available on the website?
Yes, the slides from the FY27-28 TOP Information Session held in October 2025 are available.
Is there a requirement for bidding for contractors?
If your agency has a process in place to receive bids, you may use that process. If not, you can use DVRPC’s process and staff can help you through that. Bids will be required for subcontractor work (or budgets for partner agencies, e.g. two TMAs working together on a project) and Bill Laidlaw and Anthony Gordon at DVRPC can advise on cost limits for bids.
If proposing a planning study, does there need to be a known or a likely funding source for implementing the potential solution?
Ideally, yes, but not required. DVRPC and its funding partners are not looking for studies that end with this grant, though; there should be clear steps in place for implementing the project of the study, including possible/likely funding sources.
Are Vision Zero projects acceptable?
Safety benefits are welcome, but projects should not be solely safety-focused; They must clearly support TDM objectives.
What, if any, documentation needs to be gathered for submission with the EOI?
No documentation is required for EOI submission. The goal of the EOI is to start developing your project idea. The DVRPC team will reach out with follow-up questions based on the EOI review process. Those conversations will happen between Oct 24 and Nov 14, 2025.
What is considered “implementation?”
Implementation on a permanent basis– whether construction-related (like installing bus shelters or bike racks), infrastructure-related (like permanently striping a bike lane), or service-related–is not eligible. However, implementation of a trial or pilot program, or a proposed education, outreach, or marketing program, could be eligible.
Can TOP grants fund the purchase of vehicles or service?
These grants cannot fund the purchase of vehicles but could cover lease costs.The grants can cover some service - a specific pilot program or extension of or revision to an existing route(s); however, it is most helpful if funding is already committed to operate a proposed service, or the applicant agency is actively seeking the above funding.
Are materials or construction costs eligible for TOP funding?
No.
Is constructive feedback given if the project is not selected?
Yes. A submitting agency can request a “debrief” session with the TOP team. In addition, applicants may be asked to scale their project.
Do you have an expectation of how many projects will be invited for a full application?
The number of projects invited to complete a full application is based upon the total program budget and the budgets of the EOIs received that are a good fit for the program.
Are planning or research projects eligible, or is implementation a required aspect?
Research projects are eligible if there is intention to implement the idea. The EOI application should include how the project applicant plans to implement the research with other funds.
Is a robust travel habits investigation in underserved communities a viable project if the purpose is to serve as the basis for future planning for travel options for those underserved communities?
Learning about travel habits with the intent to implement a solution from the results of the research would be eligible for TOP funds. The application should include how the project applicant plans to implement the research with other funds.
For Focus Area #4, Concept Development of a New or Existing Transportation Service, it says that the grant will fund concepts for a service where other funds have been "secured." Do the "other funds" have to be completely secured, or is it to develop a concept to help secure funds through another source (TASA, MTF, etc.)? Typically, if funds are already secured, a project is well beyond concept. Can you clarify?
For any proposed concept development project the application must include an intent to implement. For instance, perhaps the applicant wants to use TOP funds for planning, concept development, or research components of a construction project. Another example would be if the applicant is planning to fund their project with multiple different funding streams and wants to use TOP funds to start that process.
Are the project types allowed different for CMAQ compared to the STGBP funding?
New Jersey: Both CMAQ and STBGP funding are available in New Jersey. Therefore, if a project isn’t fully eligible for CMAQ funding, CMAQ and STBGP funding can be combined according to which elements of the projects are eligible for each funding source.
Pennsylvania: Only STBGP funding is available in Pennsylvania. Therefore, all projects in the state must be STBGP-eligible. STBGP funds tend to be more flexible than CMAQ, which is why all PA funds were transitioned to this source after the pilot round of TOP.
Would a digital transportation wallet be a viable project with a transit agency?
A digital transportation wallet could potentially be an eligible project within the Operational Solutions Focus Area, but TOP staff would need to learn more about the specific aspects/project phases for which the applicant would like to use the funds. The EOI application should provide evidence of buy-in from the transit agency, as well as specifics regarding whether the project would be supplementing an existing technology or generating something new. Funds could also be used to advertise an existing travel wallet.
Can money be utilized for community engagement, as far as food for outreach events?
TOP cannot use federal dollars to fund food, stipends, or gift cards. However, donations for expenses associated with the TDM issue the project is aiming to address would be acceptable. (ex: fare cards from a transit agency).
When are awards announced? And is there a plan for another round?
Awards will be announced April-May, 2026, as soon as they are approved by the DVRPC RTC and Board. We hope there will be future funding rounds for this program, but there is never a guarantee. Future rounds are dependent upon TOP project outcomes and the support of DVRPC’s partners.
Can TOP projects currently being worked on that have generated interest with new partners in new locations to be submitted this next round?
TOP can fund projects that may have been done before in other service areas, build upon a past or existing project in the current service area, or change or adapt elements of a previous project. However, TOP cannot fund projects that support maintenance or continuation of an existing or past project in the service area.
Should we assume no expenses can be incurred before July 1, 2026?
Correct, the project timeline is July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2028.
Can you explain more what the targeted subsidies in Focus Area #1, Workforce Job Access (Non-SOV), can look like? No gift cards were said before, but could it be gas card for carpools or purchase of SEPTA Keys or fares?
For a subsidy to be eligible, but it must be specifically related to the TDM issue the project is trying to address. A SEPTA Key Card would be eligible because it can only be used for transportation expenses. Gas cards can present challenges because in some cases balances can be used towards purchases that are not related to the project goals (ex: convenience store associated with a gas station).