[Federal Register: November 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 218)]
[Notices]
[Page 69201-69203]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14no05-94]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities Pilot
Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Solicitation of Proposals to Participate in the Elderly
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program.
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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from states that would like
to use a portion of their Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and
Individuals with Disabilities Program funds for operating expenses.
DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted to FTA by the close of
business December 14, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted electronically to
cheryl.oliver@fta.dot.gov and marymartha.churchman@fta.dot.gov. The
subject line of the e-mail should read: Proposal for Section 5310 Pilot
Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Cheryl Oliver, Office of Program
[[Page 69202]]
Management, (202) 366-2053, e-mail: cheryl.oliver@fta.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. General Program Information
II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals
III. Proposal Review, Selection, and Notification
I. General Program Information
A. Authority
The Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot
Program is authorized under Section 3012(b) of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU). This section establishes a pilot program allowing seven
states to use not more than 33 percent of their FY 2006-2009 Section
5310 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program
annual apportionments for operating costs associated with
transportation projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the
special needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
Four of the seven states are named in SAFETEA-LU: Wisconsin, Alaska,
Minnesota, and Oregon. Three other states will be selected to
participate in the pilot program from among the proposals submitted in
response to this solicitation. All states wishing to use not more than
33 percent of their annual Section 5310 apportionments, including those
states named in the legislation, must submit a proposal.
B. Background
Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities
Program funds have historically been available only for capital
purposes. Funds have traditionally been used for purchasing vehicles,
although some states use Section 5310 funds for contracted service,
eligible as a capital expense under the program in order to assess the
feasibility of using Section 5310 for operating purposes. The Elderly
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program allows
operating expenses to be funded on a limited basis. Seven states may
use a portion of their FY 2006-2009 Section 5310 annual apportionments
for operating expenses.
C. Eligible Applicants
Each of the four states named in SAFETEA-LU (Wisconsin, Alaska,
Minnesota, and Oregon) and any other states interested in using not
more than 33 percent of their Section 5310 funds for operating must
submit a proposal. Any of the states named in the legislation that
choose to use none of their Section 5310 funds for operating purposes
need only submit a statement to that effect by the proposal deadline.
D. Eligible Expenses
Operating expenses are considered those costs directly related to
system operations, such as fuel, oil, driver and dispatcher salaries
and fringe benefits, and licenses. Net operating expenses are those
expenses that remain after operating revenues are subtracted from
eligible operating expenses. At a minimum, operating revenues must
include fare-box revenues. States may further define what constitutes
operating revenues. Fare-box revenues include fares paid by riders who
are later reimbursed by a human service agency, or other user-side
subsidy arrangements.
E. Matching Requirements
The Federal share for net operating expenses may not exceed 50
percent. All local and state revenues generally are eligible for
inclusion in the local match with the exception of farebox and farebox-
related revenues. Federal funds (other than Department of
Transportation funds, with the exception of Federal lands highway
funds) that are eligible to be expended for transportation may be used
to match Section 5310 funds. Payments made directly to the transit
provider by human service agencies may also be used as match.
F. Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Proposals from the states identified in SAFETEA-LU (Wisconsin,
Alaska, Minnesota, and Oregon), as well as all other states interested
in using not more than 33 percent or less of their funds for operating
expenses, will be evaluated on the degree to which the state has
undertaken initiatives that advance coordination, such as:
Conducted a statewide assessment of current needs,
resources and services related to human service transportation using
the United We Ride Framework for Action.
Developed action plans that improve coordination of human
service transportation for individuals with disabilities, older adults,
and persons with lower incomes.
Implemented a statewide interagency transit pass program.
Conducted statewide seminars/conferences to establish
statewide dialogue that leads to effective action steps for future
coordination of human service transportation issues.
Developed a statewide regionalized coordination system.
Replicated a successful model in one or more communities
across the state (i.e., transit pass program; volunteer driver; travel
training; etc.).
Integrated technology to address the needs of coordination
on human service transportation, including real time eligibility,
accountability, billing, and reporting.
Developed and tested a mobility management strategy.
G. Program Requirements
Grants made for projects that include operating expenses are
subject to Federal requirements that apply to all grants made under the
Section 5310 program, including the new requirement that all projects
funded under the program were derived from a locally developed,
coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan; and the
plan was developed through a process that included representatives of
public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human services
providers with participation by the public. This planning requirement
is not in effect for the Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and
Individuals with Disabilities Program until FY 2007. SAFETEA-LU
includes this provision under Section 3012(b) as well, but does not
specify the year in which this requirement goes into effect for the
Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program.
Applicants for Section 5310 pilot program funds must therefore meet the
requirement in FY 2006. In FY 2006, applicants can meet the requirement
by certifying that projects funded that include operating expenses were
the result of a consultative process that included public
participation. In the coming months, FTA will provide further guidance
on the local planning process required under the Section 5310 Elderly
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program and the Elderly
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program in FY 2007.
Successful applicants allowed to using a portion of their Section
5310 funds for operating expenses will be expected to collect data
necessary to support the report to Congress that FTA must submit within
two years of enactment of SAFETEA-LU. FTA will issue more guidance in
the coming months on the types of data to be collected, as well as the
method to be used for transmitting the data to FTA, to the states
participating in the pilot. The
[[Page 69203]]
data will be used to evaluate the degree to which funds are used for
operating purposes that:
(1) Subsidize existing paratransit service provided to meet the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA);
(2) Provide services to persons with disabilities that exceed those
required by the ADA;
(3) Provide services to individuals with disabilities that exceed
those required by the ADA to the detriment of other eligible projects;
(4) Assist elderly individuals;
(5) Assist persons with disabilities;
(6) Serve a wider range of elderly individuals, individuals with
low-incomes, and individuals with disabilities;
(7) Improve services to elderly individuals and individuals with
disabilities;
(8) Expand the range of transportation alternatives available to
elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities; and
(9) Facilitate or discourage coordination with or integration of
other funding sources.
II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals
FTA is conducting a national solicitation for proposals from states
wishing to participate in the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with
Disabilities Pilot Program. FTA will grant authority for three states,
in addition to those named in SAFETEA-LU, to use not more than 33
percent of their annual Section 5310 apportionment for operating
expenses related to the program in FY 2006 through FY 2009. States will
be selected to participate on a competitive basis. Proposals should be
submitted electronically to:
cheryl.oliver@fta.dot.gov and marymartha.churchman@fta.dot.gov. Proposals must be received by FTA no
later than December 14, 2005. The state agency designated by the
Governor to administer the Section 5310 program will submit a proposal
that includes:
1. Applicant Information
Basic identifying information, including:
a. Agency
b. Contact information for notification of project selection:
Contact name, address, fax and phone number
2. Project Information
Every application must:
a. Provide the proportion of funds that the state intends to use
for operating expenses (not more than 33 percent) for each year of the
authorization period (fiscal years 2006-2009);
b. Document sources of funds likely to be used to match FTA funds
used for operating purposes;
c. Include a narrative portion (not more than 8 pages, double-
spaced) that addresses the state's achievements in advancing
coordination of public transit-human services transportation, as
described in paragraph F, Proposal Criteria, and how the state expects
to further enhance coordinated transportation services as a result of
using some of their Section 5310 funds for operating expenses.
III. Proposal Review, Selection, and Notification
FTA will evaluate proposals based on the degree to which a state
has advanced coordination of public transit-human services
transportation and the degree to which they believe using a portion of
their Section 5310 funds for operating expenses will further enhance
coordination efforts.
FTA expects to announce states selected to participate in the pilot
program in the Federal Register Notice of FTA Fiscal Year 2006
Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information, or in a
subsequent notice. The seven states selected will be eligible to
participate in the pilot program through FY 2009.
Issued on: November 7, 2005.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-22524 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P