Tribal Transit Programs

Federal Transit Administration February, 2006 1

Federal Transit Administration

• One of eleven modal administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation • Provide financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. • Oversee thousands of grants to hundreds of state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. • Grantees are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with Federal requirements, and FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow Federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements 2

Federal Transit Administration

• Headquarters Offices – Office of Administration (TAD) – Office of Budget and Policy (TBP) – Office of Communications and Congressional Affairs (TCA) – Office of Chief Counsel (TCC) – Office of Civil Rights (TCR) – Office of Planning & Environment (TPE) – Office of Program Management (TPM) – Office of Research & Technology (TRI) 3

Federal Transit Administration

• Regional Offices Region I: MA Region II: NY Region III: PA Region IV: GA Region V: IL Region VI: TX Region VII: MI Region VIII: CO Region IX: CA Region X: WA 4

SAFETEA-LU

• Reauthorization of Highway and Transit Programs – FY 2005-2009 • Expanded funding for Non urbanized Area Formula program • New Tribal Transit Program within the Non-urbanized Area formula program • Opportunities under three other formula programs 5

Section 5311 – Non-Urbanized Area Formula Program

• Funding increases from $251 million in FY 2005 to $537 million in FY 2009 • Formula apportionment to states tribes eligible • Tribes now eligible direct recipients • Rural Transit Assistance Program (2%) • New Tribal Transit Program – takedown from 5311 6

Tribal Transit Program

• “shall be apportioned for grants to Indian tribes for any purpose eligible under this section” (Section 5311) – Capital and operating assistance for rural public transit service – Acquisition of public transportation services, including service agreements with private providers of public transportation services 7

Tribal Transit Program

• Annual set aside from Section 5311 – FY 2006 - $8 Million – FY 2007 - $10 Million – FY 2008 - $12 Million – FY 2009 - $15 Million 8

Funding Availability

• 3 years = year apportioned + 2 years • Law doesn’t specify formula for apportioning funds • Grants can’t be made until process is established (in consultation with tribes) • Developing interim procedures for FY 2006 funding • Future guidance (FTA Circular) 9

Consultation with Tribes

• Listening session held October 26, 2005 to gather ideas on how consultation process should be conducted • Outreach at several interagency meetings – like this • Established FTA Regional Liaisons • Dear Colleague Letter • Federal Register Notice 11.30.05

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Federal Register Notice What We Asked

• Interim measure to allocate FY 2006 funds based on responses to a request for letters of interest • Limiting transit participation to tribes which already have transit options or which have already conducted planning and are prepared to implement new transit service • Which requirements we should waive for the Tribal Transit Program 11

Federal Register Notice What We Heard

• Eligible activities should include planning • Oppose limiting to existing transit systems • Federal Share should be 80-100% • Supportive of Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act • Need for consultation meetings • Encourage coordination with IRR Council, FHWA, TTAP Centers 12

Other FTA Programs of Interest to Tribes

• Non-urbanized (Rural) Formula Program (Section 5311) – Apportioned to the States for rural transit – Congressional intent that Tribal Program not meant to replace or reduce funds Tribes receive from States – States can use (or pass down) 15% of their total allocation for planning, technical assistance, and administration – Tribes can now apply to FTA directly for grant for funds allocated to Tribe by State.

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Other FTA Programs of Interest to Tribes

• Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) – Technical assistance, training, research, and support projects for rural transit – 2% of 5311 appropriation • 85% allocated to states for TA and training • 15% for National Activities 14

Three Formula Programs – State Administered

• Elderly and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) – For Private Non-Profit agencies (mostly) – Capital assistance only • New Freedom (Section 5317) – Beyond ADA – for Individuals with Disabilities – New services and public transportation alternatives • Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC –Section 5316) – Transportation services to help welfare recipients and low income individuals reach jobs and support services – Reverse commute – to suburban job locations 15

Project Selection

• State conducts competitive selection process for projects under all three programs for rural areas and small urbanized areas (under 200K population) • Transit operator and MPO’s conduct competitive selection in large cities • Projects must be derived from locally developed coordinated public transit/human service transportation plan 16

Coordinated Planning

• FTA developing guidance • A Tribe could develop the required coordinated plan – Include stakeholders, citizens, human service providers, and private operators • Apply to State for funding under all three programs for projects in rural areas • After project selection, tribes can receive the funding either as sub recipient of State or through direct grant from FTA under 5311 17

Next Steps

• Develop interim methodology for allocating FY 2006 funding • Define Terms and Conditions for the Program • Publish another Federal Register Notice: – Addresses comments from 11.30.05 FRN – Describe allocation process for FY 2006 funding – Solicit additional public comments • Host public outreach meetings with tribal leaders, tribal members, and other key stakeholders • Publish a solicitation for proposals for 2006 • Evaluate, select, and announce projects • Publish FTA Circular 18

Upcoming Outreach Meetings

• Denver, Colorado

April 4, 2006

Holiday Inn Denver International Airport John Q Hammons Convention Center • Kansas City, Missouri

April 7, 2006

Westin Crown Center 19

Purpose of Upcoming Outreach Meetings

• Introduce and describe FTA processes and requirements • Address comments received in the docket • Opportunity to refine proposed FY 2006 proposal solicitation process • Solicit comments and share additional information 20

For More Information

• FTA Website: www.fta.dot.gov

: “SAFETEA-LU Implementation” • Fact Sheets and FAQs are posted • Participate in outreach meetings • Respond to requests for comment (FTA Dockets – Federal Register Notices) 21

Questions?

Email questions to: [email protected]

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