In the beginning …Planning Requirements for FTA grants

HIGHLIGHTS

Darin AllanCommunity Planner

U.S. Department of TransportationFederal Transit Administration

NYPTA Annual Conference17 November 2010Albany, NY

Planning Requirements for FTA Grants

• Metropolitan Planning

• Environmental Review

Metropolitan Planning Requirements

• Plan, TIP and STIP

• Work with your MPO early to program projects & phases

• Adequate description

What? Why?

FHWA/FTA STIP Project Description Reference Guide (contact NYSDOT)

eSTIP (e.g.):PRELDESDETLDESROWACQUCONSTOPERMISC

Environmental Review

• NEPA (23 CFR Part 771)

–EIS & EA

–Categorical Exclusions (CE or “CatEx”)

–Cs (21 types) and Ds (13 types)

– Listed in TEAM

Environmental Review

• Discuss with FTA planner

• Start with adequate project description

• 1-2 sentences for simple CE(c) projects:

– “County Transit will purchase 20 35-ft replacement buses.”

• 1-2 paragraphs for CE(d) projects

– E.g. Transfer Center, BRT, et. al.

WHAT?WHERE?WHEN?WHY?

CE(c) – FTA’s determination occurs with grant award

CE(d) – FTA’s determination occurs prior to grant award(reference finding letter)

Expediting JARC & New Freedom Grants

1. Eligible projects translate to fundable projects (read/know the Federal Register Notices & FTA Circulars)

2. Ensure the project is in the Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan Participate in the planning process!

3. Know your Designated Recipient’s competitive process and deadline dates (Roles and Responsibilities)

4. TIP/STIP, NEPA, Matching Funds Project Readiness5. How is it going? Quarterly Progress Reports

Planning Take-Aways

• Work with MPO early to program project in TIP & STIP (consistent with Plan)

• Read Federal Register Notice (Apportionments, discretionary programs) & FTA Circulars for requirements

• Discuss early with FTA planner to determine needed environmental analysis

• Really work on defining project description

ELIGIBILITY

Circular Date Title C 5010.1D 11-01-08 Grant Management Requirements

C 5200.1A 12-05-02 Full-Funding Grant Agreements Guidance

C 6100.1C 05-02-03 Transit Research And Technology Programs: Application Instructions And Program Management Guidelines

C 8100.1C 09-01-08 Program Guidance for Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program Grants

C 9030.1D 05-01-10 Urbanized Area Formula Program: Program Guidance and Application Instructions

C 9040.1F 04-01-07 Nonurbanized Area Formula Program Guidance and Grant Application Instructions

C 9045.1 05-01-07 New Freedom Program Guidance and Application Instructions

C 9050.1 05-01-07 The Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program Guidance and Application Instructions

C 9070.1F 05-01-07 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program Guidance and Application Instructions

C 9300.1B 11-01-08 Capital Investment Program Guidance and Application Instructions

www.fta.dot.gov/circulars

darin.allan@dot.gov

212.668.2632