FEDERAL
AGENCY:
FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORIZATION:
Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century, Section 3038, 49 U.S.C 5310.
To
make funds available to private operators of over-the-road buses
to finance the incremental capital and training costs of complying
with requirements of the Department of Transportation's over-the-road
bus accessibility rule, "Transportation for Individuals with
Disabilities."
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants.
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USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Program
funds may be used to finance the incremental capital and training
costs of complying with DOT's over- the-road bus accessibility rule.
Capital projects eligible for funding include adding wheelchair
lifts and other accessibility components to new vehicle purchases,
and purchasing lifts to retrofit existing vehicles. Eligible training
costs include training in proper operation and maintenance of equipment,
boarding assistance, and securement, handling and storage of mobility
devices, and sensitivity training.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Private operators of over-the-road
buses that provide intercity fixed route bus service, and other
providers, including operators of local fixed-route service, commuter
service, and charter or tour service.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Persons with disabilities.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs are determined in accordance with program guidance in an
annual Federal Register.
APPLICATION
AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: None required. The program is
not covered by E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs."
Application
Procedure: FTA conducts a national solicitation
for applications. Grant awards will be made on a competitive basis.
Paper applications are accepted. An original and two copies must
be submitted to the appropriate FTA Regional Office. The over-the-road
bus operators should submit their applications to the office in
the region in which its headquarters is located. The application
should provide information on all items for which the applicant
is requesting funding. Detailed guidance for preparing applications
is provided in an annual Federal Register Notice, "Over-the-Road
Bus Accessibility Program Grants".
Award
Procedure: Grants will be awarded annually.
Deadlines:
As prescribed in the annual Federal Register Notices.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: FTA will accept
applications and announce project selections each federal fiscal
year (October 1 to September 30).
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Federal funds will
be provided for up to 90 percent of the eligible costs.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Funds are
available for obligation to grantees for 3 fiscal years. Any funds
not obligated by FTA by the end of this period will be added to
the succeeding year's program allocation.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
As requested by FTA. Electronic reporting is encouraged.
Audits:
As requested by FTA.
Records:
Recipient is required to retain intact, for 3 years following
submission of the final expenditure report, pending resolution
of audit findings, all grant products, financial records, and
supporting documents.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 69-1125-0-1-401.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $2,878,000; FY 02 est $6,950,000; and FY 03 est
$6,950,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$10,000 to $ 50,000. Average: $20,000.
PROGRAM
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In the first 2 years of the program, funding has gone to 53 companies
who will make 270 vehicles wheelchair accessible and provide training.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Federal Register Notices, published annually. Current guidance contained
in Federal Register Notice dated January 26, 2001, "Over-the-Road
Bus Accessibility Program Grants".
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Catalog Appendix for listing
of Federal Transit Administration regional offices.
Headquarters
Office: Federal Transit Administration, Office
of Program Management, Office of Resource Management and State
Programs, 400 7th Street SW., Washington DC 20590. Sue Masselink,
Program Coordinator. Telephone: (202) 366-2053.
Web
Site Address: http://www.fta.dot.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Operators of annuity fixed route services received $29,460 for the
incremental capitol cost of making vehicles wheelchair accessible,
and $1,800 for training as required by the American Disability Act.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Current guidance contained in Federal Register Notice dated January
26, 2001, "Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants".
