Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program

 

The Emergency Relief Program is intended to provide operating assistance and capital funding to aid recipients and sub-recipients in restoring public transportation service, and in repairing and reconstructing public transportation assets to a state of good repair, as expeditiously as possible following an emergency or major disaster.

Active 20.527 Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 FTA has continued to award grants that fund long term recovery and rebuilding of public transit systems from Hurricane Sandy, and that increase the resilience of these transit systems to future natural disasters. FTA has continued to award grants that fund long term recovery and rebuilding of public transit systems from Hurricane Sandy, and that increase the resilience of these transit systems to future natural disasters.
Fiscal Year 2017 FTA will continue to award grants that fund long term recovery and rebuilding of public transit systems from Hurricane Sandy, and that increase the resilience of these transit systems to future natural disasters.
Fiscal Year 2018 FTA will continue to award grants that fund long term recovery and rebuilding of public transit systems from Hurricane Sandy, and that increase the resilience of these transit systems to future natural disasters.
Fiscal Year 2019 Continued providing grants, technical assistance, and oversight for public transit providers affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Prepared to make available funding appropriated by Congress for transit systems affected by major declared disasters occurring in 2018.
Fiscal Year 2020 Made available $10.5 million in funding appropriated by Congress for transit systems affected by major declared disasters occurring in 2018. Provided technical assistance, regulatory relief, and expanded eligibilities to transit providers across the country affected by coronavirus.
Fiscal Year 2021 FTA used its authority under this program to allow recipients of Urbanized Area Formula Grants (59 U.S.C. 5307) and Formula Grants for Rural Areas (59 U.S.C. 5311) to use previously-apportioned funds for capital and operating expenses directly related to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. No additional funding was provided through the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program
Fiscal Year 2022 FTA continued helping transit agencies in states and territories affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria to rebuild damaged transit facilities and services and to make transit systems more resilient to future disasters.
Fiscal Year 2023 FTA made a final allocation of funding for transit systems affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. FTA also allocated funding for transit systems affected by Major Declared Disasters in calendar years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022 from the $213 million provided by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, 49 U.S.C. 5324
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, 49 U.S.C. 5324
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Public Law -117-58, 49 U.S.C. 5324 An entity that operates public transportation service in an area impacted by an emergency or major disaster, as defined by a gubernatorial or presidential declaration of such an emergency or disaster, and that receives federal transit funds directly from FTA. Beneficiaries of funding include public transportation operators and the general public in areas for which an emergency or major disaster has been declared as defined under section 5324. 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 unless the project does not change the location, function, or capacity of the transit asset being repaired or replaced; 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. Costs will be in accordance with 2 CFR 225 for State and local governments. Requirements associated with Chapter 53 of Title 49, U.S. Code, and other DOT regulations may be waived by FTA. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles, applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. 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. 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 grants are only for expenses that are not reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular 2CFR 200. Applications are made to the regional offices of the Federal Transit Administration listed at https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/regional-offices. An FTA grant award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. Grants are awarded electronically. 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, the recipient must execute the grant agreement to access the funds. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. Funding is made available as necessary through the appropriation process. Grants may be amended to add newly available funds for a continuing project. Funds will be allocated based on detailed damage assessments conducted in the aftermath of an emergency or major disaster and on demonstrated operational costs incurred in preparation for and in response to an emergency or major disaster. Damage assessments must provide detailed information on the extent of damage to a public transportation system and the costs of restoring the system to a state of good repair. Project proposals that improve the resiliency of a public transportation system's infrastructure will be evaluated on the basis of proposed costs and benefits based, in part, on the likelihood and extent of potential damage from future events. The ER Program allows FTA to make grants for eligible public transportation capital and operating costs in the event of a catastrophic event, such as a natural disaster, that affects a wide area, and, as a result of which, the Governor of a State has declared an emergency or the President has declared a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Eligible projects include emergency operations, emergency repairs, permanent repairs, actual engineering and construction costs on eligible projects, and resiliency projects designed to protect rolling stock, equipment, facilities and infrastructure from future damage. Performance Reports: A milestones progress report is required. Not applicable. 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. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 20%. There is an 80% federal 20% non-federal match, subject to waiver by FTA.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: Funds are available until expended. Reimbursement for actual expenses See the list of FTA Regional Offices; https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/regional-offices Thomas Wilson
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, DC 20590 USA
thomas.wilson@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-5279 https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grant-programs/emergency-relief-program/emergency-relief-program 69-1140-0-1-401 (Project Grants) FY 22$24,688,000.00; FY 23 est $150,321,000.00; FY 24 est $298,692,000.00; FY 21$71,142,000.00; FY 20$703,628,653.00; FY 19$1,105,009,113.00; FY 18$1,256,503,966.00; FY 17$2,093,010,830.00; FY 16$487,049,008.00; - Future obligations will be made in response to assessed needs and subject to the availability of program funds. Future obligations will be made in response to assessed needs and subject to the availability of program funds. 49 CFR Part 602 "Emergency Relief Program" and the FTA Emergency Relief Manual, found at https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grant-programs/emergency-relief-program/emergency-relief-manual-reference-manual-states Fiscal Year 2016 Recovery projects include the replacement of water-damaged facilities and equipment for New York City Transit’s subway system and New Jersey Transit’s commuter rail network. Examples of resilience projects include the elevation of ventilation shafts for the Washington, DC Metro system and the protection of essential track, signal and power systems within the New York City subway system. Recovery projects include the replacement of water-damaged facilities and equipment for New York City Transit’s subway system and New Jersey Transit’s commuter rail network. Examples of resilience projects include the elevation of ventilation shafts for the Washington, DC Metro system and the protection of essential track, signal and power systems within the New York City subway system.
Fiscal Year 2017 FTA will continued to award grants that fund long term recovery and rebuilding of public transit systems.
Fiscal Year 2018 Eligible projects include emergency operations, emergency repairs, permanent repairs, actual engineering and construction costs on eligible projects, and resiliency projects designed to protect rolling stock, equipment, facilities and infrastructure from future damage.
Fiscal Year 2019 Replacing bus shelters damaged by hurricanes, repairing transit vehicles damaged by high wind, replacing the roof on a maintenance facility, relocating a transit facility to higher ground due to potential flooding, reimbursing transit operating expenses incurred due to hurricane evacuations.
Fiscal Year 2020 Repairing rail beds damaged by earthquake; replacing buses destroyed in a typhoon; reimbursing transit operating expenses incurred during a hurricane; reimbursing the salaries of employees who were on standby to work during a disaster; replacing passenger ferries sunk in a hurricane; assisting transit agencies with costs related to preventing, preparing for, and responding to coronavirus.
Fiscal Year 2021 FTA used its authority under this program to allow recipients of Urbanized Area Formula Grants (59 U.S.C. 5307) and Formula Grants for Rural Areas (59 U.S.C. 5311) to use previously-apportioned funds for capital and operating expenses directly related to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. No additional funding was provided through the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program.