[Federal Register: December 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 70501-70504]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de04-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
United We Ride State Coordination Grants Announcement
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice identifies state agencies selected for United We
Ride State Coordination Grants and provides instructions for applying
for the grant funds.
EFFECTIVE DATE: State agencies selected for State Coordination Grants
may begin application procedures upon receipt of letters from FTA
Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn informing them of their selection.
Applicants should submit their electronic grant applications to FTA by
February 28, 2005. Grant activities should be complete, with all funds
drawn down from the grant, by February 28, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants may contact the appropriate
FTA Regional Administrator (see Appendix A) for grant-specific issues;
or Elizabeth Solomon, 202-366-0242, for general information about the
United We Ride State Coordination Grants.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Those states selected for funding were found
to meet the objective of the United We Ride initiative which is to
implement the President's Executive Order on Human Service
Transportation Coordination by breaking down barriers among Federal
programs to enhance coordination of human service transportation
programs for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and lower
income populations who depend on transportation services to access
employment, health, and other community services. The purpose of the
State Coordination Grants is to increase the overall capacity of states
to deliver comprehensive and coordinated human services transportation
that meets the needs of transportation-disadvantaged individuals and to
increase cross-agency collaboration to facilitate coordination, enhance
services, and address redundancies of programs and services. These
grants may be used to assist states in conducting a comprehensive state
[[Page 70502]]
assessment using the United We Ride Framework for Action; developing a
comprehensive state action plan for coordinating human services
transportation; or, for those states that already have a comprehensive
state action plan, to implement one or more of the elements identified
in the Framework for Action.
Grant Selections. The solicitation announcement for the United We
Ride state coordination grants called for applications to be submitted
by August 23, 2004. FTA received 45 proposals, all of which were
evaluated and approved by an interagency team of reviewers. Grants will
be made for between $19,000 and $35,000. No local match is required for
these grants. Of the applicants, 38 are state DOTs and the remaining
seven are various other state agencies. We encourage these other state
applicants to partner with the state DOTs for submittal of grant
applications.
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State Lead agency Amount
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Alabama........................... Alabama Department $35,000
of Senior Services.
Alaska............................ Alaska Department of 35,000
Transportation and
Public Facilities.
Arizona........................... Arizona Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Arkansas.......................... Arkansas State 19,000
Highway and
Transportation
Department.
California........................ California 34,027
Department of
Transportation.
Colorado.......................... Colorado Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Connecticut....................... Connecticut 35,000
Department of
Transportation.
Delaware.......................... Delaware Transit 35,000
Corporation.
District of Columbia.............. Washington DC 35,000
Department of
Transportation.
Florida........................... Florida Commission 35,000
for the
Transportation
Disadvantaged.
Georgia........................... Georgia Department 34,750
of Transportation.
Idaho............................. Idaho Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Illinois.......................... Illinois Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Iowa.............................. Iowa Department of 30,000
Transportation.
Kansas............................ Kansas Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Kentucky.......................... Kentucky 35,000
Transportation
Cabinet.
Louisiana......................... Louisiana Department 34,984
of Transportation
and Development.
Maine............................. Maine Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Maryland.......................... Maryland Transit 35,000
Administration.
Massachusetts..................... Massachusetts Human 35,000
Service
Transportation
Office.
Michigan.......................... Michigan Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Minnesota......................... Minnesota Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Mississippi....................... Mississippi Division 35,000
of Medicaid.
Missouri.......................... Missouri Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Montana........................... Office of the 25,450
Governor.
Nebraska.......................... Nebraska Department 35,000
of Roads.
Nevada............................ Nevada Department of 30,000
Transportation.
New Hampshire..................... New Hampshire 35,000
Department of
Transportation.
New Jersey........................ New Jersey Transit 35,000
Corporation.
New Mexico........................ New Mexico State 35,000
Highway and
Transportation
Department.
New York.......................... New York Department 35,000
of Transportation.
North Carolina.................... North Carolina 35,000
Department of
Health and Human
Services.
Ohio.............................. Ohio Department of 28,700
Transportation.
Oklahoma.......................... Oklahoma Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Oregon............................ Oregon Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Pennsylvania...................... Pennsylvania 35,000
Department of
Transportation.
South Carolina.................... South Carolina 35,000
Department of
Transportation.
Tennessee......................... Tennessee Department 35,000
of Transportation.
Texas............................. Texas Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Utah.............................. Utah Department of 35,000
Transportation.
Vermont........................... Vermont Agency of 35,000
Transportation.
Virgin Islands.................... Virgin Islands 35,000
Department of
Public Works.
Virginia.......................... Virginia Department 35,000
of Rail and Public
Transportation.
West Virginia..................... West Virginia 35,000
Division of Public
Transit.
Wisconsin......................... Wisconsin Bureau of 29,816
Aging and Long Term
Care.
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Eligible Costs. Funds may be used to support personnel for
planning, training, coordination, and other administrative activities
required to enhance coordination among and across agencies within the
state. Supplies, small equipment (computers, etc.), and travel are also
eligible expenses.
Ineligible Costs. Funds may not be used for provision of
transportation services, such as for capital costs for large equipment,
e.g. vehicles, or operating costs.
Planning Requirements. Because the State Coordination grants are
financed with planning and research funds, they are exempt from
inclusion in the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Programs
(TIPs) and the State Transportation Improvement Programs (STIPs).
However, FTA encourages States to share information on their proposed
work activities with affected local officials. In urbanized areas,
States are encouraged to coordinate with Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs), including possible reference of their work
activities in the Unified Planning Work Program. In non-urbanized
areas, States are encouraged to share information on proposed State
Coordination Grant activities with local officials through each State's
required consultation process with non-metropolitan local officials
regarding participation in statewide transportation planning and
programming. FTA regards the involvement of local officials as critical
[[Page 70503]]
to achieving effective coordination of human services transportation.
Pre-Award Authority. Costs may be incurred for activities in the
approved proposal prior to FTA approval. However, in exercising pre-
award authority, applicants must comply with all Federal requirements.
Failure to do so will render costs ineligible for FTA financial
assistance. Applicants must consult the appropriate FTA regional office
regarding the eligibility of the project for future FTA funds or the
applicability of the conditions and Federal requirements. Pre-award
spending authority is provided effective as of November 9, 2004, the
date on which letters of project selection were sent to applicants.
Certification and Assurances. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(n),
certifications and assurances have been compiled for the various FTA
programs. Before FTA may award a Federal grant, each successful
applicant must provide to FTA all certifications and assurances
required by Federal laws and regulations applicable to itself and its
project. A state providing certifications and assurances on behalf of
its prospective subrecipients should obtain sufficient documentation
from those subrecipients needed to provide informed certifications and
assurances. All of the Federal requirements that apply to State
Coordination grant applicants are included in those applicable to all
grantees, so Category 1, Required of Each Applicant, is the category
that State Coordination Grant applicants will select. If FTA already
has the State applicant's signed certifications and assurances for the
current fiscal year and it has provided adequate certifications and
assurances to qualify for a State Coordination Grant, the State
applicant need not submit separate certifications and assurances for
assistance. FTA's (FY) 2005 Certifications and Assurances Notice was
published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2004. A copy of that
Federal Register notice can be found on the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/legal/federal_register/2004/12174_16165_ENG_HTML.htm.
The document is also available on the Main Menu of the
Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) Web site.
Applicants that need further assistance should contact the appropriate
FTA regional office (see Appendix A) for further information.
Applying for Funds. Applicants for State Coordination funds will
submit their applications electronically through TEAM, the Web-based
FTA electronic system that FTA uses for grant award and management. The
content of these grant applications must reflect the approved proposal.
This application does not require Department of Labor Certification.
Regional Office (Appendix A) staff can advise how specific laws,
regulations, Federal Register notices, and Executive Orders may be
obtained.
Payment Procedures. All FTA payments to grantees are made through
the Electronic Clearing House Operation (ECHO) system. New grantees can
work with regional staff to obtain an ECHO account number and a
password for ECHO access. Grantees may transmit an ECHO drawdown
request message to FTA in order to receive funds necessary to meet
immediate cash disbursement needs. The ECHO system processes the
grantee's message and if no problems are noted by FTA, the amount
requested is transmitted to Treasury. Treasury electronically transfers
the payment to the grantee's financial institution within 24 hours.
Reporting Requirements. By October 31 each year, the state should
submit to FTA a milestone progress report and a financial status report
in TEAM for each active grant covering the 12-month period ending
September 30 or the period from when the grant was awarded through
September 30, and, upon completion of the grant project, submit a final
report. These reports are intended to meet at least the minimal program
information needs at the regional and national levels. Copies of
planning documents or products developed from grant activities, if any,
can be submitted as attachments in the TEAM system. Grantees must also
submit the Overall State Self-Assessment of the Framework for Action.
Grantees can: access this document at http://www.fta.dot.gov/ccam/framework_states.doc
; copy the Overall State Self-Assessment page near
the end of the document; and provide, in text, ratings for each of the
six sections. The document can then be saved as a text document and
submitted as an attachment in TEAM with an annual or final report.
Data Collection. United We Ride is targeted to simplify access to
transportation services, reduce duplication and increase cost
efficiencies. Too often, information to measure our progress in
coordinating human service transportation and achieving cost and
service results is lacking. FTA will be providing guidance to assist
grantees with collecting data regarding expenditures, costs and
benefits of coordinated transportation services.
Issued on November 30, 2004.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
Appendix A--FTA Regional Offices
Region I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
and Vermont. Richard Doyle, FTA Regional Administrator, Volpe
National Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, 55 Broadway,
Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, (617) 494-2055.
Region II
New Jersey, New York, and Virgin Islands. Letitia Thompson, FTA
Regional Administrator, One Bowling Green, Room 429, New York, NY
10004-1415, (212) 668-2170.
Region III
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and West Virginia. Susan Borinsky, FTA Regional
Administrator, 1760 Market Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA
19103-4124, (215) 656-7100.
Region IV
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Hiram Walker,
FTA Regional Administrator, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 17T50,
Atlanta, GA 30303, (404) 562-3500.
Region V
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Joel Ettinger, FTA Regional Administrator, 200 West Adams Street,
Suite 2410, Chicago, IL 60606-5232, (312) 353-2789.
Region VI
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Robert
Patrick, FTA Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street, Room 8A36,
Ft. Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-0550.
Region VII
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA
Regional Administrator, 901 Locust Street, Suite 404, Kansas City,
MO 64106, (816) 329-3920.
Region VIII
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and
Wyoming. Lee Waddleton, FTA Regional Administrator, 12300 West
Dakota, Suite 310, Lakewood, CO 80228-2583, (720) 963-3300.
Region IX
American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and
the Northern Mariana Islands. Leslie Rogers, FTA Regional
Administrator, 201 Mission Street, Suite 2210, San Francisco, CA
94105-1839, (415) 744-3133.
Region X
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Richard F. Krochalis, FTA
Regional Administrator, Jackson Federal Building, 915
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Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174-1002, (206) 220-7954.
[FR Doc. 04-26751 Filed 12-3-04; 8:45 am]
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