MDOT’s Public Transportation (rail, bus, public transit, marine) and Aeronautics Programs are administered by three separate offices: The Office of Passenger Transportation (OPT) manages bus and marine programs, the Office of Rail manages rail and port programs, and the Office of Aeronautics administers the aviation program. These offices provide capital and operating assistance, technical support, and safety oversight for the department’s Public Transportation and Aviation Programs.
MDOT’s approach to the Public Transportation and Aeronautics Programs differs from the Highway Program in that much of the infrastructure is owned, managed, and operated by entities other than MDOT, and the funding that MDOT is responsible for represents only a small portion of the overall investments in these modes.
MDOT’s 2025-2029 Public Transportation (rail, bus, public transit, marine) and Aeronautics programs are estimated at $4.6 billion, with $3.6 billion in Public Transportation covering $2.8 billion in Bus and Marine, $786.5 million in Rail and Ports, and $1 billion in Aeronautics investments. These investments will provide essential support for developing and maintaining a vibrant and sustainable multimodal transportation system that provides safe and easy movement of people and goods throughout the state.
2025-2029 Highway Program investment, including routine maintenance (in millions)
|
Public Transportation and Aeronautics investment strategy (in millions)
|
FY 2025
|
Five-year total
|
Average
|
|
Public Transportation
|
|
|
|
|
Local Bus, Intercity Bus, Passenger Rail, Freight Rail, and Marine/Port
|
|
|
|
|
State restricted expenditure authority
|
$462.7
|
$2,280.2
|
$456.0
|
|
Federal formula expenditure authority
|
$133.7
|
$696.1
|
$139.2
|
|
Federal discretionary expenditure authority (includes one-time $20 million in FY 2025)
|
$145.8
|
$668.3
|
$129.7
|
|
Public Transit and Rail Grants (one-time GF expenditure authority)*
|
$11.0
|
$11.0
|
*
|
|
Aeronautics
|
|
|
|
|
Airport Improvement Program (AIP)**
|
$120.0
|
$600.0
|
$120.0
|
|
Air Service Program
|
$0.05
|
$4.05
|
$0.8
|
|
State/Local Program
|
$0.0
|
$8.0
|
$1.6
|
|
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Program
|
$0.0
|
$4.0
|
$0.8
|
|
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Airport Programs
|
$120.0
|
$420.0
|
$84.0
|
|
Total
|
$992.25
|
$4,691.6
|
$932.1
|
Subject to appropriation of state and federal expenditure authority. Includes only state and federal.
*Annual average not included for the one-time Transit Innovation Grants.
**Includes comprehensive program of needed investments for primary airports and general aviation airports, as identified in the MDOT Airport Improvement Program.
