Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement (PRIIA) Projects for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

 

To assist in financing part of the capital and preventive maintenance projects included in the Capital Improvement Program approved by the Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The grants are used to address needed safety improvements including track repairs, train control systems, new rail cars, and escalator repairs.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
20.524
Federal Agency/Office
Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 The same types of funded projects are expected in FY 2016. In FY 2016, FTA obligated $148.5 million to fund capital projects included in WMATA's FY17 Capital Improvement Program. These funds were directed to the following projects: , which includes railcar replacement, track rehabilitation, rehabilitation of rail yards, replacement of radio and cellular infrastructure, elevator and escalator replacements, and projects that address required safety actions from FTA and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. Through March of 2017, 316 new 7000 Series railcars have been accepted and WMATA will finish retiring the 1000 and 4000 Series fleets by the end of calendar year 2017. WMATA has provided cellular service in its first section of tunnel and, through SafeTrack, WMATA has returned 63 miles of track to a state of good repair by replacing over 30,000 ties and fasteners and aged track infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2017 FTA obligated $148.5 million to fund capital projects included in WMATA's FY 2017 Capital Improvement program. The funds are used for railcar replacement, track rehabilitation, elevator and escalator rehabilitation, and projects recommended by NTSB and FTA. In 2017, WMATA received 144 new 7000 series railcars to replace 1000 series railcars.
Fiscal Year 2018 The same types of projects funded in prior years are expected in FY2018.
Fiscal Year 2021 The funds were used for capital projects included in WMATA's FY2021 Capital Improvement Program. Projects in this grant address some of the FTA and NTSB safety recommendations and these projects meet the goals of the statute including infrastructure improvements related to rail system safety and service reliability. The grant application includes the following projects: Platform Phase II, Railcar Rehabilitation, Fire Alarm Systems Upgrades, Elevator and Escalator Rehabilitation and Replacement, Procurement of Railcars, Radio and Cellular infrastructure, Railcar safety improvements, and Automatic Train Control (ATC).
Fiscal Year 2023 The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was awarded $143.5 million in FFY2022 to support capital projects for necessary safety repairs and rehabilitation of Metro station platforms at five stations located on the WMATA Orange Line in NE Washington DC and Prince George’s County, Maryland; conduct water mitigation work along two-segments of the Red Line; and systemwide improvements to rehabilitate, repair, upgrade or replace system escalators and elevators, Metro’s radio system, and ATC room safety critical equipment. This allows WMATA to continue to provide clean, safe and reliable transportation and ensure WMATA transit systems are in a state of good repair.
Authorization
Grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as authorized under section 601 of division B of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–432), as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act., Title Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
This program is only for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Public Law 116-260) for construction, renewal, and rehabilitation of transit assets.
Beneficiary Eligibility
WMATA, transit riders, and general public.
Credentials/Documentation
Resolution by the Board of Directors of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) approving the filing of an application; evidence that projects are included in the formal Capital Improvement Program approved by the Board of Directors of WMATA; information on labor and relocation; 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 2 CFR 200 for State and local governments.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. WMATA must submit a list of eligible projects for review and approval by the Secretary of Transportation or his/her designee prior to the submittal of a formal application. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular 2 CFR Part 200 and FTA Circular 5300.1. Applications are made to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by regional offices of the Federal Transit Administration.
Award Procedure
An FTA grant award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. Grants are awarded electronically using FTA's Transit Award Management System (TrAMS), www.transit.dot.gov/TrAMS/. In order to access this system, a user name and password are needed and can be obtained by contacting the regional offices. Once the funds are reserved in TrAMS and the project information has been reviewed and approved by Headquarters, the recipient must execute the grant agreement to access the funds.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 45 to 60 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Funding is made available annually through the appropriation process. A separate grant application is executed for each fiscal year as funds are appropriated by Congress.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
Funding provides for projects of the highest priority, that will improve the safety of the system, including but not limited to fixing the track signal system, replacing 1000 series cars, installing guarded turnouts, buying equipment for wayside worker protection, and installing rollback protection on cars that are not equipped with the safety feature. Grants shall not be used to increase the mileage of the rail system.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: FTA staff must review and sign off on all quarterly FFRs and MPRs.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
The grantee must record and maintain all financial transactions for a period of 3 years after the close of a grant. The grantee must maintain an asset inventory for the useful life of an capital acquisition .
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 50%. Matching Requirements: WMATA shall provide 50 percent of the net project cost to match each Federal grant provided. The matching funds shall be provided in cash from sources other than Federal Funds or revenues from the operation of public mass transportation systems. The provisions of the federal grants are subject to the provisions of the equal annual contributions of capital funds from the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information:
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are available until spent. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Federal Transit Administration, Office of Program Management (TPM) DC Metropolitan Office 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE Washington, DC 20590 FTA Region 3 Office 1760 Market Street, Suite 500 Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124 https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/regional-offices
Headquarters Office
Kevin Osborn
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.,
Washington, DC 20590 USA
kevin.osborn@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-7519
Website Address
https://www.transit.dot.gov/
Financial Information
Account Identification
69-1128-0-1-401
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$148,500,000.00; FY 23 est $148,500,000.00; FY 24 est $148,500,000.00; FY 21$148,500,000.00; FY 20$148,500,000.00; FY 19$148,423,419.00; FY 18$148,500,000.00; FY 17$164,160,637.00; FY 16$150,000,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable/available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
FTA Circular 5010.1E for Grants Management FTA Circular 4220.1F for Third-Party Procurements
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 The same types of projects funded in prior years are expected in FY 2016. In FY 2016, FTA obligated $148.5 million to fund capital projects included in WMATA's FY17 Capital Improvement Program. These funds were directed to the following projects: railcar replacement, track rehabilitation, rehabilitation of rail yards, replacement of radio and cellular infrastructure, elevator and escalator replacements, and projects that address required safety actions from FTA and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. . The funded capital projects include: rail car replacement; track rehabilitation; station and tunnel leak mitigation, escalator and elevator rehabilitation and projects that address FTA and NTSB safety recommendations.
Fiscal Year 2017 Procurement of rail cars to replace the 1000, 4000, and 5000 series rail cars, replacement of radio and cellular infrastructure, replacement of wayside assets critical to ensuring safe operation of the Metrorail ATC system. Rehabilitation of station and tunnel to mitigate leaks. Rehabilitation of escalators/elevators to address FTA and NTSB safety recommendations.
Fiscal Year 2018 The same types of projects funded in prior years are expected in FY2018. The funds are used for capital projects in WMATA's CIP program.
Fiscal Year 2021 The funds supports capital projects and preventive maintenance expenditures included in WMATA's FY2021 Capital Improvement Program, which includes infrastructure rehabilitation and addresses some of the FTA and NTSB safety recommendations. The following projects are partially or fully funded by the program: Platform Rehabilitation, Railcars Rehabilitations, Fire Alarm Systems Upgrades, Elevator and Escalator Rehabilitation and Replacement, Procurement of Railcars, Radio and Cellular infrastructure, Automatic Train Control (ATC), and projects that address FTA and NTSB safety recommendations.
Fiscal Year 2023 The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was awarded $148 million in FY2021 to support capital projects for necessary safety repairs and rehabilitation of Metro station platforms at four Green Line stations; conduct routine railcar rehabilitation; and systemwide improvements to rehabilitate, repair, upgrade or replace system escalators and elevators, Metros radio system, and ATC room safety critical equipment. This allows WMATA to continue to provide clean, safe and reliable transportation and ensure WMATA transit systems are in a state of good repair.

 



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