Transportation Museums

This activity includes the funding of capital improvements for surface transportation-related museums.

Transportation museums must meet the following definition of a museum:

• Be a legally organized non-profit institution or part of a non-profit institution or governmental entity.


• Be essentially educational in nature.


• Have a formally-stated mission.


• Have one full-time paid professional staff member who has museum knowledge and experience and is delegated authority and allocated financial resources sufficient to operate the museum effectively.


• Present regularly scheduled programs and exhibits that use and interpret objects for the public according to accepted standards.


• Have a formal and appropriate program of documentation, care, and use of collections and /or tangible objects.


• Have a formal and appropriate program of presentations and maintenance of exhibits.

The museum must be open to the public and operated by a public or non-profit organization meeting the definition of museums stated above in this section. If entrance fees are charged for the museum, a portion of the fee should be provided for the long-term maintenance and operation of the facility.

Allowable Uses

• Construction of a new facility for use as a transportation museum.


• Addition to an existing facility for use as a transportation museum.


• Purchase of artifacts, displays, etc. relating to surface transportation.


• Preservation of a historic transportation-related or non-transportation-related building for use as a transportation museum.


• Cost associated with the stabilization and restoration of the historic elements of the structure, both interior and exterior.


• Cost associated with contemporary upgrades of water, electric, heating, air conditioning, etc., when appropriate, to make building viable for public use.

Unallowable Uses

• Aviation-related museum facilities, displays, artifacts, etc.


• Operating and maintenance costs

Budget Items for Consideration

• architectural and engineering fees


• project management


• environmental documentation


• construction costs


• permits


• parking (spaces)


• landscaping


• furnishings and equipment


• exhibits

Notes: Contingency amounts more than 10% over a two-year period must be accompanied by a detailed explanation.

Related Topics

Read the Transportation Enhancement Program instructions and download the application.