To
assist in financing the acquisition, construction, reconstruction,
and improvement of facilities, rolling stock and equipment for use,
by operation, lease, or otherwise, in mass public transportation
service and in coordinating service with highway and other transportation
in such areas.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The
Secretary of Transportation may make grants and loans under this
section to assist State and local governmental authorities in financing:
capital projects for new fixed guideway systems, and extensions
to existing fixed guideway systems, including the acquisition of
real property, the initial acquisition of rolling stock for the
systems, alternatives analysis related to the development of the
systems, and the acquisition of rights of way, and relocation, for
fixed guideway corridor development for projects in the advanced
stages of alternatives analysis or preliminary engineering; capital
projects, the acquisition, construction, reconstruction and improvement
of facilities and equipment for use by operation or lease or otherwise
in mass transportation service, including property and improvements
needed for an efficient and coordinated mass transportation system,
including buses and bus facility equipment; the capital costs of
coordinating transit with other transportation; and the introduction
of new technology, through innovative and improved transportation;
and the introduction of new technology, through innovative and improved
products. Consideration may also be given for projects which enhance
urban economic development; establish new or enhanced coordination
between transit and other transportation; or enhance the effectiveness
of a transit project and are related physically or functionally
to that transit project. It could also include financing for transit
projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special
needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities;
for the development of corridors to support fixed guideway systems,
including protecting rights of way through acquisition, construction
of dedicated bus and high occupancy vehicle lanes and park-and-ride
lots, and other nonvehicular capital improvements that the Secretary
may decide would result in increased transit usage in the corridor.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Public agencies, including States;
municipalities and other subdivisions of States; public agencies
and instrumentalities of one or more States; and public corporations,
boards, and commissions established under State law. Applicant must
have legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out proposed
project and maintain facilities and equipment purchased with Federal
assistance.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Public agencies, although private
transportation companies may participate through contractual arrangements
with public agency grantee.
Credentials/Documentation:
Resolution by an authorized public body approving the filing for
an application; projects must be included in an urbanized area's
transportation improvement program (TIP), in the State transportation
improvement program (STIP) and approved by FTA and FHWA; information
must be provided on labor and relocation; environmental impact
statement; legal opinion; coordinated regional planning documentation;
maintenance certification; and compliance with certifications
and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications
and Assurances. Cost will be in accordance with OMB Circular No.
A-87 for State and local governments. Federal Register Notice
FTA Fiscal Year Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information,
published annually contains the capital investment apportionments.
For fiscal year 2001, the publication date was 15 January 2001.
For other fiscal years, contact the FTA Regional Office to obtain
the publication dates. FTA website: www.fta.dot.gov/.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is eligible for coverage
under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as
the single point of contact in his or her State for more information
on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for
assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The
standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and
required by 49 CFR Part 18 must be used for this program. An environmental
impact assessment may be required for this program. An environmental
impact statement may also be required upon completion of review
of the assessment.
Application
Procedure: This program is subject to the
provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87 and 49 CFR Part 18 and FTA
Circular 9300.1A, "Capital Program: Grant Application Instructions,"
October 1, 1998. Applications are made to the regional offices
of the Federal Transit Administration listed in Appendix IV of
the Catalog.
Award
Procedure: An FTA grant award obligating Federal
funds is reflected in a grant agreement. To access funds, the
recipient must execute the grant agreement.
Deadlines:
At the beginning of each fiscal year, closing dates are established
for the receipt of applications in the Regional Office.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: FTA has a 90-day
goal for processing fixed guideway modernization formula grants.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Amendments may be granted.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Funds for fixed guideway
modernization are apportioned by statutory formula principally to
eleven specified areas. Other areas that have fixed guideway mileage
that is over 7 years old. Funds for bus and bus related improvements
are allocated on a discretionary basis. Funds for construction of
new fixed guideway systems are allocated based on statutory or discretionary
basis. A grant may be made up to 80 percent of net project cost.
Vehicle related equipment required to comply with ADA or Clean Air
Act may be funded at 90 percent Federal share.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Terms and
conditions are contractually agreed on between FTA and the applicant.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
(1) Progress reports; (2) Financial status reports.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133,
"Audits of State and Local Governments and Nonprofit Organizations,"
nonfederal entities that expend $300,000 or more in a year in
Federal awards shall have a single or program specific audit conducted
for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000
a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements
for that year with certain exceptions as stated in OMB Circular
No. A-133.
Records:
Recipient is required to retain intact, for 3 years following
submission of final expenditure report, pending resolution of
audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records,
and supporting documents.
Obligations:
(Discretionary Grants) FY 01 $55,199,000; FY 02 est $48,141,000;
and FY 03 est $0. (Capital Investment Grants) FY 01 $2,486,743,000;
FY 02 est $2,960,000,000; and FY 03 est $3,310,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Varies according to local programming formulas.
In fiscal year 2001, $2,500,000,000 billion had been obligated under
the capital grant charge from the FTA Regional Offices.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Contact the FTA Regional Offices. See FTA Circular 9300.1A, "Capital
Program: Grant Application Instructions," October 1, 1998.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Appendix IV: Agency Regional
and Local Office Addresses of the Catalog for a listing of the Federal
Transit regional offices.
Headquarters
Office: Federal Transit Administration, Department
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
FTA Office of Program Management, Joyce Larkins (202) 366-2053.
Web
Site Address: http://www.fta.dot.gov/htl/grants.htm
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
(1) 13 Compressed Natural Gas buses in St. Louis; (2) Gateway Intermodal
Center in Los Angeles; (3) constructed Portsmouth, VA ferry docking
facility (Norfolk-Portsmouth), LRT security system and power substation
in Sacramento; and (4) Phase I of Interstate 405/State Route 55
freeway exclusive HOV/Transitway Connector Ramp project in Orange
County, CA. (5) Dallas North Central Light Rail.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
1. Major, non-recurring capital investments. 2. Prior programming
of all formula funds.
