Transit Planning and Research (20.514)

Program

20.514 Transit Planning and Research

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users , Public Law 109-59, 49 U.S.C 5314(a).

Program Number

20.514

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The Federal Transit Administration's research program seeks to deliver solutions that improve public transportation. Its primary goals are to increase transit ridership, improve safety and emergency preparedness, improve capital operating efficiencies, protect the environment and promote energy independence, and provide transit research leadership. To accomplish this, FTA funds research on mobility management, transit operational efficiency, safety and emergency preparedness, transit capacity building, energy independence and environmental protection, infrastructure and equipment protection and innovation, and strategic research program planning.

Types of Assistance

DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION; PROJECT GRANTS; TRAINING

Uses and Use Restrictions

This program includes several types of projects, including research, development, demonstration and training projects (49 U.S.C., Section 5312), and human resource programs (49 U.S.C., Section 5322).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Grants and cooperative agreements: Public bodies, nonprofit institutions, State and local agencies, universities, and legally constituted public agencies and operators of public transportation services, and private for-profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State and local governments, transit agencies, private organizations, profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, and universities.

Credentials/Documentation

Grants and cooperative agreements: Initial proposal should include project objectives, background, and project description, including time schedule, budget, and applicant's organizational experience. Legal opinion and compliance with labor requirements are required later. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, A-21 for universities, A-122 for private nonprofit organizations, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations for private for profit organizations. Contracts are awarded in response to specific requests for proposal. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Although applications for research, development and demonstration projects may be submitted at any time, potential applicants are encouraged to communicate with FTA before submitting formal applications. The initial contact may be by telephone, by submitting a written outline, or by personally meeting with appropriate FTA Headquarters staff. This preliminary contact will serve to: (1) establish a base for communication between FTA and the applicants; (2) determine the a applicant's eligibility; (3) eliminate any proposal which have little or no chance for Federal funding before applicants incur expenditures involved in proposal preparation; and (4) determine funding available and conformance to FTA policy and program objectives. 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 their State for more information on the process the State requires 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 or 49 CFR Part 19 must be used for this program. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Potential applicants should follow instructions found in FTA Circular 6100.1C, "Transit Research and Technology Programs: Application and Program Management Guidelines." This Circular may be found at the FTA web site at www.fta.dot.gov. This program is subject to the provisions of 49 CFR Part 18 for State and local governments and 49 CFR Part 19 for universities and private nonprofit organizations.

Award Procedure

The Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, makes the final decision to approve a project. An FTA grant or cooperative agreement award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement or cooperative agreement. To access funds, the recipient must execute the grant agreement or cooperative agreement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

varies.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Varies with the complexity of the project. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

(1) Quarterly financial; (2) quarterly or monthly progress; and (3) interim and final. Electronic filing is preferred. SF - 272. (1) Quarterly financial; (2) quarterly or monthly progress; and (3) interim and final. Electronic filing is preferred. SF - 269. (1) Quarterly financial; (2) quarterly or monthly progress; and (3) interim and final. Electronic filing is preferred.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of State and Local Governments and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities (including universities) that expend $500,000 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 $500,000 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. For direct procurement contracts, audits will be conducted in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Records

Grant recipients shall retain records for 3 years following submission of a final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, all project contracts documents, financial records, and supporting records.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: (1) FTA initiated the Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Program integrating vehicle technology, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), coordinated services, traffic engineering enhancements, and innovative urban design. Seventeen cities have formed a BRT consortium to share ideas and experience in implementing BRT. (2) The Advanced Technology Transit Bus (ATTB) test vehicle was successfully developed and tested. This revolutionary low-floor, light- weight, easily accessible bus features low-emission propulsion. (3) FTA, working with an industry committee (natural gas suppliers and transit operators) produced a detailed technical guideline document defining basic safety requirements for fueling facilities, vehicles, bus garages and storage areas. (4) Four-quadrant gates linked to a vehicle detection system are being demonstrated on a commuter-rail highway grade crossing in the Boston area to prevent motorists from attempting to drive around closed crossing gates. (5) Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation) has implemented accessible transportation initiatives, made national presentations on accessible transportation and distributed thousands of copies of "how-to" publications. (6) The JobLinks program provided Welfare-to-Work pilot demonstrations, evaluations and technical assistance that were instrumental in designing the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program enacted in TEA-21. (7) In collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, FTA published a 3-volume guidance manual on developing and implementing Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures and developed and tested a pilot training course on TDM. (8) FTA prepared and disseminated descriptions of FTA Research and Technology programs and projects and annotated bibliographies of recent technical reports related to transit; these are available on the FTA Research and Technology website: http://www.fta.dot.gov. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-1137-0-1-401.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Contracts)) FY 08 $44,762,900; FY 09 est $40,400,000; FY 10 est not reported. - Transit Planning and Research Grants and Contracts) FY 07 est $34,414,761; FY 08 est $39,990,000; and FY 09 est not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

None established.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Fiscal Year 2009 Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for Federal Transit Administration Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Notice published October 1, 2008. For other fiscal years, contact the FTA Office of Research Demonstration and Innovation to obtain the publication dates. FTA website www.fta.dot.gov. Other information will be made available upon request.

Related Programs

20.500 Federal Transit_Capital Investment Grants; 20.507 Federal Transit_Formula Grants; 20.515 State Planning and Research

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Sylvia L. Marion 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Phone: (202) 366-6680

Web Site Address

http://www.fta.dot.gov/research.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Nearly all projects funded in recent years were at the direction of the Congress under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). or annual appropriations acts. Projects funded during FY 2009 include: (1) Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Nationwide Joblinks; (2) Transportation Equity Program; (3) Intelligent Transportation System Pilot Program; (4) National Bus Rapid Transit Project; (5) Human Resource Coordination; (6) Capital Area Regional Transportation Plan; and (7) Institute of Technology�s Transportation, Economic and Land Use System. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals must support the FTA Strategic Plan, available on the FTA Home Page of the Internet at http://www.fta.dot.gov. If a preliminary proposal is judged to meet program and funding availability, FTA will invite formal proposal submission or cooperative agreement application. Criteria for preliminary approval include: (1) compatibility with FTA Strategic Plan and Strategic Research Plan; (2) availability of funding; (3) potential for impact on the state-of-the-art from the viewpoint of innovation in transit technology, services and operations; (4) technical feasibility and potential for successful introduction into use in the transit industry; (5) background, experience, and demonstrated capabilities of the applicant; (6) partnerships with public and private organizations; (7) non-FTA funding match; and (8) other pertinent matters, such as geographic distribution of projects and questions of environmental and labor impact.