### Question
Can you define what rural area means?


### Answer
**Rural area** is defined as the following in *49 U.S.C. § 5302*:

> an area encompassing a population of less than 50,000 people that has not been designated in the most recent decennial census as an "urbanized area" by the Secretary of Commerce

#### Citation:
  - *49 U.S.C. § 5302*
  - Heading: **SUBTITLE III-GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS > CHAPTER 53-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION**

