Hernando County Approves FY2026 Transit Budget, Seeks FTA Funds

Hernando County moved forward on Dec. 16 when the Board of County Commissioners considered and, unless amended, approved the FY2026 Program of Projects, or POP, budget for TheBus and signaled its intent to apply for federal funds under 49 U.S.C. §5307 and §5339. The public notice posted by the county lists a range of potential capital and operating uses that the application would support.

The notice identifies preventive maintenance, ADA bus stop improvements, replacement of buses including Gillig buses, transit operations support vehicles, transit amenities such as shelters, and eligible operating costs as candidate uses for the combined program funding apportionment. The county document also provides the combined apportionment figure and invites public comment through the FTA program of projects process. Contact details for the transit administrator were provided for residents to submit input.

This administrative move matters for county riders and taxpayers because the POP is the vehicle through which federal urbanized area formula and bus and bus facilities funds are allocated and spent. Investments in preventive maintenance and vehicle replacement can reduce service disruptions and improve reliability. ADA bus stop improvements and additional shelters affect accessibility and rider comfort, particularly for seniors and people with disabilities who rely on fixed route and paratransit services.

The public notice process gives residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before federal applications are finalized. The BOCC retains authority to amend the POP before final submission, so public comment can influence project priorities and operating allocations. From a policy perspective the inclusion of eligible operating costs alongside capital projects highlights ongoing tensions in transit funding between maintaining service levels and investing in physical assets.

As Hernando County proceeds with the FTA application, county officials will need to balance immediate operational needs with longer term capital planning, and to demonstrate fiscal stewardship of federal funds. Residents seeking to influence priorities should use the contact information provided in the county notice to submit comments during the FTA program of projects process.