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Rail, Bus, Public Transit, Marine and Aeronautics Programs

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 2027-2031 Public Transportation (rail, bus, public transit, marine) and Aeronautics programs are estimated at $5.7 billion, with $4.8 billion in public transportation covering bus and marine, $2.0 billion in rail, and $1.2 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. 

Local transit and intercity bus funding

Local transit

Funding

FY 2027 (in millions)

Five-year total (in millions)

Specialized services/enhanced mobility total

$26.4 $134.8

Federal formula

$13.4 $69.8
CTF

$13.0

$65.0

Local bus operating

$315.0

$1,626.0

CTF

$315.0

$1,626.0

Federal nonurban operating and capital

$39.9

$207.8

Federal formula $39.9 $207.8

Municipal Credit Program

$2.0

$10.0

CTF

$2.0

$10.0

Service initiatives

$2.3

$11.5

Federal formula

$1.3

$6.5

CTF $1.0 $5.0
Van pooling $0.3 $1.5
CTF $0.3 $1.5

Local transit subtotal

$385.9

$1,991.6

 Intercity bus

Funding FY 2027 (in millions) Five-Year Total (in millions)
Intercity services $9.8 $50.5
Federal formula $6.4 $33.4
CTF $3.4 $17.1
Local transit and intercity bus total $395.7 $2,042.1

Passenger rail, freight rail and ports

Funding FY 2027 (in millions) Five-Year total (in millions)
Property management $1.3 $6.5
Rail operations and infrastructure5 $219.4 $1,110.5
Rail grade crossing (Local Grade Crossing Program)6 $6.0 $30.0
Local Crossing Surface Program $3.0 $15.0
Total passenger and freight rail total $229.7 $1,162.0
Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (operating assistance) $0.6 $3.0
Rail and ports total $230.3 $1,165.0

Includes $109.8 million federal/local/private spending authority and $6 million Rail Freight Fund spending authority.

Comparable projects on state trunklines included in Highway Capital Program.

Flexible funding

Passenger transportation and rail flexible funding

Funding FY 2027 (in millions) Five-Year Total (in millions)
Intermodal capital $265.8 $1,347.3
Federal formula - FTA $70.3 $351.6
Federal discretionary - FTA $76.6 $383.1
CTF $118.9 $612.6
Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund8 $65.0 $277.5
IPAF $65.0 $277.5
Flexible funding total $330.8 $1,624.8

IPAF revenue transfers from the NRF shift from $65 million annually through FY 2030 to $17.5 million annually from FY 2031 onward.

Aeronautics Program

Funding FY 2027 (in millions) Five-Year total (in millions)
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) $120 $600
Air Service Program $0.05 $0.25
State/Local Program9 $5.4 $5.4
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Airport Programs $120 $300
Aeronautics grand total $245.45 $905.65

Funded by a one-time appropriation.