Tribal Transit ProgramAugust 9, 2013

State Programs MeetingPresented By

Élan Flippin, FTA

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Agenda• Program Background and Authority• Purpose of Federal Register Notice• Formula Apportionment• FY 2013 Discretionary Program• Questions

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Program Background and Authority

• The Tribal Transit Program (TTP) provides direct funding to federally recognized Indian tribes for the purpose of providing public transportation service on and around Indian reservations in rural areas

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Program Background and Authority

• Section 5311 (j) of MAP-21, Public Law 112-41 (July 6, 2012), authorizes the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) for Fiscal Years 2013-2014.

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Program Background and Authority• Set-aside from the Formula Grants

for Rural Areas program (section 5311)

• Approximately $25 million goes out by formula; $5 million discretionary competition

• Formula factors given in statute – Vehicle Revenue Miles and the number

of low-income individuals residing on tribal lands.

• Terms and Conditions as determined by the Secretary (FTA)

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Purpose of Federal Register Notice

• FTA published a Federal Register Notice on May 9, 2013 which:– Responded to the comments received

during consultation process (November 9th Federal Register solicited comments)

– Described the program structure for both allocations – formula and discretionary

– Described the applicable Terms and Conditions, including local match provisions

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Purpose of Federal Register Notice

• Continued – Announced the final/full year formula

apportionment (Table 10) – Solicited proposals for the FY 2013

Discretionary Funds

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Formula Apportionment• Statutory Formula – Tier I: 50 percent based on vehicle

revenue miles– Tier 2: 25 percent based on Indian tribes

providing at least 200,000 vehicle revenue miles

– Tier 3: 25 percent based on Indian tribes providing public transportation on tribal lands as identified by the Census where more than 1,000 low income individuals reside

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Formula Apportionment• Eligible Tribes included in the

apportionment – Tribes in the NTD and reported that they

provide public transportation on Indian Reservations as of October 1, 2012.

– Tribes that submitted data for the 2011 reporting period were considered under all 3 Tiers.

– Tribes that did not submit data in time for the reporting period were only considered under Tier 3 (Poverty Tier).

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Formula Apportionment• Eligible Projects – Capital, Planning, Operating, Job Access

and Reverse Commute • Eligible Federal Share– 100% (no match required for formula

funds) • Funding Availability– Funds are available the year

appropriated plus two years (total of three years).

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Formula Apportionment• Other noteworthy changes – Shared Tribal Lands –For shared areas

in OK, FTA identified the tribe providing service in the shared area, and credited that tribe with the Census data for the shared area

–Multiple or other operators to provide service – how FTA counts the pro-rated share of the operator’s VRM toward the apportionment (not just federal funds)

• More tribes receiving an apportionment

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Formula Apportionment • Reductions in amounts

apportioned– 71 tribes full year apportionments are

receiving less than what was projected in the illustrative apportionment (loss range from .5 to 19.53%)

– Result of all of the changes, primarily because more Indian tribes were identified as eligible to share in the formula funds.

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Formula ProgramNext Steps

• Tribes should be developing grant applications in FTA’s TEAM system with the regional office (Tribal Liaisons) – New users: Obtain user ID and password– Obtain TEAM training from regional

office– Certifications and Assurances

• Use the existing 5311 circular for guidance until the revised circular is finalized (9040. 1F)

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FY 2013 Discretionary Program

• FTA solicited proposals for FY 2013 TTP discretionary program in the May 9, 2013 Federal Register Notice

• Proposals were due on July 8, 2013 • FTA received 75 proposals,

requesting $18.1million• Proposal evaluations are currently

underway

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FY 2013 Discretionary Program

• Available Funding– Approximately $5 million in FY 2013

• Funding Availability – Funds are available the year allocated

plus two years (total of three years).• Eligible applicants – Federally recognized Indian tribes or

Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the US Dept. of Interior

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FY 2013 Discretionary Program

• Eligible Projects – Planning – capped at $25,000– Capital – replacement and expansion

needs –Operating Assistance; limited to: • Start-up/New Systems with no transit• Tribes that received $0 under the formula

program, but can demonstrate they operate public transportation• Tribes that only received formula funds

under Tier 3 • Eligible Federal Share: 90 percent– Exception for financial hardship cases

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Evaluation Criteria• Planning and Local Prioritization• Project Readiness• Demonstration of Need• Demonstration of Benefits• Financial Commitment and Operating

Capacity

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Planning Evaluation Criteria

• What the tribes’ long term commitment to transit is?

• How the proposed study will be implemented and/or further tribal transit.

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FY 2013 Discretionary Program

Next Steps• Tribes should continue to report to

NTD• Announce FY 13 Discretionary

Awards (Fall of 2013)