Groveport Council Considers Federal Transit Grant for Older Adults
The measure authorizes an application through MORPC for capital funding requiring a 20 percent local match.
Groveport City Council is scheduled to take a third reading and final vote on Monday, Nov. 9, on legislation authorizing the city administrator to apply for and accept federal transit grant funding.
Groveport Municipal Building Council Chambers exterior, viewed from the sidewalk in daylight.
Credit: Google Street View · © 2026 Google · Google Street View panorama QmwIwiM8GRgQpC0qirWaCA, captured August 2024
The ordinance authorizes the city administration to seek federal transit grant funding under the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities Program through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.
If approved, city officials plan to use the capital grant to purchase and install security cameras on Groveport's senior transit vehicles. The municipal transit service transports older residents to medical appointments and community destinations, and officials aim to enhance passenger safety and fleet monitoring across the vehicles.
The federal program provides capital grants for transit projects that assist older adults and people with disabilities, including alternatives that go beyond standard requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. For capital projects, the program provides 80 percent federal funds, requiring Groveport to certify a 20 percent local match from non-federal sources. Assistance is provided on a reimbursement basis, meaning the municipality must expend funds upfront before requesting repayment through the regional planning commission. Groveport must also agree to federal subrecipient requirements governing procurement, vehicle maintenance and ongoing reporting.
Council Member Hilbert is listed as the sponsor of the legislation. The ordinance was previously referred to the Committee of the Whole and recommended for approval. Council introduced the measure on Oct. 7, referred it to committee on Oct. 12 and received the recommendation on Oct. 19.
During council's second reading on Oct. 26, Hilbert raised whether council should adopt the ordinance as an emergency measure to accelerate purchasing and installing the transit cameras. City Administrator B.J. King advised against an emergency declaration, explaining that equipment procurement timing depends on when federal grant awards are officially released and agreements are executed, rather than local legislative scheduling. Council members agreed with King's guidance and maintained the standard three-reading schedule.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission acts as the designated recipient of Section 5310 funds for the Columbus urbanized area, awarding grants to local governments, transit operators and non-profit groups. Applications for MORPC's 2026 funding cycle closed on Oct. 30, with about $1.9 million allocated across the region and 10 percent set aside for program administration.
The legislation is currently on third reading before Groveport City Council. Adopting the measure requires approval by the council of the city of Groveport, with a majority of its members concurring. Council's final vote is scheduled for Monday evening.
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Supporting evidence (11)
The ordinance authorizes the city administration to seek federal transit grant funding under the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities Program through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.
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AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE MID-OHIO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE COLUMBUS URBANIZED AREA FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) FUNDING FROM THE ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM (SECTION 5310), AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE SAID GRANT FUNDING
The federal program provides capital grants for transit projects that assist older adults and people with disabilities, including alternatives that go beyond standard requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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WHEREAS, the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities program provides eighty percent (80%) federal funds for capital projects and fifty percent (50%) federal funds for operating projects to support alternatives to public transportation projects that assist Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities, new or expanded transportation services and alternatives that go beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 for individuals with disabilities; and
For capital projects, the program provides 80 percent federal funds, requiring Groveport to certify a 20 percent local match from non-federal sources.
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WHEREAS, the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities program provides eighty percent (80%) federal funds for capital projects and fifty percent (50%) federal funds for operating projects to support alternatives to public transportation projects that assist Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities, new or expanded transportation services and alternatives that go beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 for individuals with disabilities; and WHEREAS, the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities program is paid on a reimbursement basis, requiring the applicant to first expend funds then request reimbursement from MORPC, which will, in turn, request the funds from FTA; and WHEREAS, the applicant certifies it shall provide twenty percent (20%) local matching funds for capital projects from sources other than Federal Department of Transportation funds; and
Assistance is provided on a reimbursement basis, meaning the municipality must expend funds upfront before requesting repayment through the regional planning commission.
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WHEREAS, the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities program is paid on a reimbursement basis, requiring the applicant to first expend funds then request reimbursement from MORPC, which will, in turn, request the funds from FTA; and
Groveport must also agree to federal subrecipient requirements governing procurement, vehicle maintenance and ongoing reporting.
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WHEREAS, the City of Groveport agrees to abide by federal requirements as a sub-recipient of FTA funds, including Federal Fiscal Year 2027 Certifications and Assurances inclusive of provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and all subsequent annual Certifications and Assurances during the length of the agreement, including federal procurement, maintenance, useful life, disposition standards, and ongoing reporting; and
Council Member Hilbert is listed as the sponsor of the legislation.
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Sponsor: Council Member Hilbert
The ordinance was previously referred to the Committee of the Whole and recommended for approval.
Read supporting passage
This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole
The ordinance was previously referred to the Committee of the Whole and recommended for approval.
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This Ordinance was recommended for approval
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission acts as the designated recipient of Section 5310 funds for the Columbus urbanized area, awarding grants to local governments, transit operators and non-profit groups.
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WHEREAS, MORPC is the designated recipient of the Enhanced Mobility for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) program for the Columbus Urbanized Area authorized to make grants to public bodies, private nonprofit organizations, and other eligible entities; and
The legislation is currently on third reading before Groveport City Council.
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{Body=City Council, Content type=Legislation, Document coverage=API text and document metadata; linked PDF bytes are not retained, File=Ord. 2026-041, Legislation type=Ordinance, Municipality=groveport, Status=Third Reading, Text version=1}
Adopting the measure requires approval by the council of the city of Groveport, with a majority of its members concurring.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, A MAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERS CONCURRING:
https://www.morpc.org/programs-services/enhanced-mobility/
Supporting evidence (1)
Applications for MORPC's 2026 funding cycle closed on Oct. 30, with about $1.9 million allocated across the region and 10 percent set aside for program administration.
Read supporting passage
Funding Amounts5310 (2026) – $1,905,653**Note: 10% will be set aside for program administration.A mandatory, virtual workshop was held on September 30, 2026, at 12 p.m.View the 2026 5310 Enhanced Mobility Funding Workshop SlidesView the 2026 presentation on YouTube.The application will be open until October 30, 2026, at 5 p.m.