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Section 1: Program Options

The following programs are available for small communities and rural providers:

Non-urbanized Area Formula Program (49 U.S.C. Section 5311): A formula program to enhance the use of public transportation systems in small urban and rural areas; to assist in the development and support of intercity bus transportation; and to provide for the participation of private transportation providers in rural transportation to the maximum extent feasible.

FTA Circular 9040.1E

The Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Program (49 U.S. C. Section 5310): A formula program to improve mobility for the elderly and persons with disabilities in all areas - urbanized and rural.

FTA Circular 9070.1E

Capital Program: Bus and Bus Related Facilities (49 U. S. C. Section 5309): A discretionary program to assist in financing capital projects that will benefit the country's transit systems. These funds are intended to provide a supplementary source of funds for capital needs that cannot be met through the non-urbanized area formula program (Section 5311).

FTA Circular 9300.1A

Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (TEA-21 Section 3037): A competitive program to help improve mobility and economic opportunity for welfare recipients and other low-income people through the provision of new or expanded transportation service to help improve mobility to suburban employment opportunities for the general public, including welfare recipients and low-income individuals. 67 Federal Register 67 (April 8, 2002)

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-8389-filed

Flexible Funds (TEA-21): Funds authorized under the Federal Highway program that may be used for either transit or highway projects. Funds apportioned under the Federal Highway program that are available for transfer include Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. STP funds may be used for eligible capital transit projects, while CMAQ funds may be used for eligible capital transit projects and operating assistance for new services. When a State decides to use flexible funding for public transit projects, the funds are transferred to FTA. These funds take on the characteristics of the formula program they have been transferred to and are managed by FTA.

Flexible Funds can be an important source of funds to supplement regular FTA formula funds or to proceed with new service projects.

Transfer Flexibility of FTA Funds: The Section 5310, 5311 and 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula funds apportioned to areas under 200,000 population) programs allow the Governor (or designated State agency) the discretion to transfer funds between these programs. The transfer provisions give Governors greater flexibility to allocate formula transit funds so that they are fully utilized. The State must provide written notification to FTA of its intent to transfer funds.

Human Service Transportation Coordination: One way to better use Federal funds and increase service is through coordination with other transportation agencies, including human service transportation agencies. FTA encourages collaboration with local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in the design and delivery of non-emergency transportation services.

If you need more information about FTA programs do not hesitate to call the appropriate FTA regional office

How the Federal Process Works

Each Federal Fiscal Year, FTA publishes a Federal Register Notice of Apportionments and Allocations. This notice includes the amount of Section 5311 Non-urbanized formula program and Section 5310 Elderly and Persons with Disabilities formula program funds available to each State. Once apportionment amounts are known, the State agency will solicit proposals. As part of this solicitation, subrecipients will be requested to submit various documentation to the State. These proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the State agency in accordance with its State Management Plan (SMP). The SMP is a document that describes the State's policies and procedures for administering the Section 5310 and 5311 programs. Each State is required to have an approved SMP on file at their FTA regional office and to update it regularly with any changes in requirements. Once the State agency has selected subrecipients, it will submit a grant application to FTA requesting funding.

The yearly Federal Register Notice also includes listings of Section 5309 Bus Capital projects and Section 3037 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) projects. Both the Section 5309 Capital and Section 3037 JARC programs were established as discretionary programs.

Over the past several years all of the Bus Capital funds and a significant portion of the JARC funds have been earmarked by the Congress.

Grant Processing

Once the Federal Register Notice is issued, grantees can submit an application at any time. When a complete application is submitted, FTA will do everything possible to approve the application within 60 days.

All grant applications are developed, approved and managed in FTA's Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system. TEAM is a web-based system for FTA's grant programs and provides a paperless grant process. The TEAM system can be accessed through the Internet at the following address:

http://ftateamweb.fta.dot.gov/

The State prepares the application for Section 5310 and 5311 funds but subrecipients will need to provide information to the State about their proposed activities.