Tribal Transit Programs

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Tribal Transit Programs

• Federal Transit Administration

February, 2006
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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Funding Availability

• 3 years year apportioned 2 years
• Law doesnt specify formula for apportioning
  funds
• Grants cant be made until process is established
  (in consultation with tribes)
• Developing interim procedures for FY 2006 funding
• Future guidance (FTA Circular)

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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 NoticeWhat 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

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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

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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

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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

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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 MPOs conduct competitive
  selection in large cities
• Projects must be derived from locally developed
  coordinated public transit/human service
  transportation plan

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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Questions?

• Email questions to
• Fta.TribalProgam_at_fta.dot.gov