Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study & Regional Planning Affiliation 8

Rural County Transportation Program (RCTP)

Rural County Transportation Program (RCTP) Grants
Rural County Transportation Programs (RCTP) are county-led grant programs that provide funding to small cities to help implement non-federal aid transportation projects. Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Clinton counties have created RCTP programs. The counties distribute RCTP funds to cities through a competitive application process. The counties have agreements with RPA 8 staff to administer the program and help cities with writing applications.

Proposed FY 2026 Scoring Criteria Changes
The RPA is currently reviewing the RCTP application scoring criteria and considering changes for FY 2026. The memo below provides a summary of the proposed changes. Comments and questions on the proposed changes may be submitted by emailing dfox@ecia.org or calling 563.690.5752.

  Memo - RCTP Criteria Change
  Presentation - RCTP Criteria Change
  Video - RCTP Criteria Change Meeting

Completed FY 2025 Funding Cycle
The Fiscal Year 2025 funding cycle is complete. The memo documents below provide a summary of the applications submitted and the results of the application ranking process.

   Clinton County Memo
   Delaware County Memo
   Dubuque County Memo
   Jackson County Memo

FY 2025 Program Guidelines
(New guidelines will be provided for FY 2026.)
Each county has established its own program guidelines. The program guidelines set the rules for the application process, project raking, and how funds awarded. The guidelines also set the application timelines and identify which cities are eligible to apply. Fiscal year 2025 Guideline documents and a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for each county are provided below.

   Clinton County - Guidelines - NOFO
   Delaware County - Guidelines - NOFO
   Dubuque County - Guidelines - NOFO
   Jackson County - Guidelines - NOFO

Online Questionnaire
Use the form below to apply for RCTP grants and submit supporting documents and applications.
(Questionnaire link will be added when the FY 2026 funding cycle opens.)

Sample Documents
The documents provided below include sample forms that are used in the application process.

   Sample Resolutions
   Sample Funding Agreement

RCTP Training
ECIA held an online training for FY 2025 RCTP grant applications on January 25, 2024.

   Training Video
   Presentation Slides

RCTP History
Click here for a summary of past grant awards from the four county RCTP programs.