The Missouri Department of Transportation’s Transit Section in the Multimodal Operations Division provides financial and technical assistance to public transit and specialized mobility providers across the state. This function is carried out through the administration of state and federal programs related to general public transportation as well as specific transit programs for agencies serving senior citizens and/or persons with disabilities.   The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides grants to states on a formula basis for nonurban transit in the Section 5311 program. Rural transit providers and intercity bus carriers apply to MoDOT’s Transit Section for these Section 5311 grants to carry out rural public transit related service, planning and capital projects.   The Transit Section also administers the rural transportation assistance program (RTAP) by providing training and technical assistance functions funded by FTA. Free on-site training courses offered to rural transit agencies include defensive driving, CPR, first aid, passenger assistance techniques, and emergency procedures.   State funded transit operating assistance is provided to both rural and urban public transit agencies. This general revenue fund and/or state transportation fund program helps to defray a portion of the costs those agencies incur in providing mobility services in their communities.   The FTA also provides formula grants to states for the Section 5310 program that targets funding for agencies serving the mobility needs of senior citizens and/or persons with disabilities. MoDOT administers the Section 5310 program as a capital program to procure and fund 80% of the cost of vehicles for such agencies as developmental disability resource boards (Senate Bill 40 boards), sheltered workshops, senior citizen services boards (House Bill 351 boards), and senior centers as well as not-for-profit medical service agencies.   The Missouri Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Assistance Program (MEHTAP) is a state funded program that helps defray a portion of the transportation costs incurred by agencies providing mobility services to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Half of the annual general revenue funding in this program is allocated to the 10 Area Agency on Aging districts statewide.   The Transit Section administers FTA formula grants to states for the small urbanized and non-urbanized portions of the state in the Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC). Eligible low income worker transportation related activities in the JARC program include operating assistance, capital assistance and planning.   The Transit Section also administers the FTA formula grants to states for the small urbanized and non-urbanized portions of the state in the Section 5317 New Freedom Program. Eligible projects beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act include operating assistance and capital assistance.   The FTA provides planning funds to urbanized areas via states through the Section 5303 program. MoDOT’s Transit Section allocates these urban transportation planning funds on a population basis to locally designated metropolitan planning organizations.   MoDOT’s Transit Section also administers national discretionary transit capital grants specifically designated for rural recipients as well as other transit projects statewide. These federal transit capital grants in FTA’s Section 5309 grant program fund 80% of the cost for replacement transit vehicles, vehicles for service expansion, transit facilities, and equipment in support of transit services.