Federal Transit Formula Grants

 

The Urbanized Area Formula Funding Program (49 U.S.C. 5307) makes federal resources available to local and regional government authorities and states for transit capital and operating assistance and for transportation-related planning in urbanized areas. An urbanized area is an 'Urban Area', as defined and designated in the most recent decennial census by the Department of Commerce - Bureau of the Census, that encompasses a population of not less than 50,000. In addition, a Passenger Ferry Grant Program sub-component 5307(h) remains in this program. It should be noted that 20.532 Passenger Ferry Grant Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program is the Assistance Listing for all other federal funding for Ferry projects.

Active 20.507 Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2016 FTA is expected to make approximately $5 billion available to 5307 program recipients. FTA is expected to award over 1,100 grants to Section 5307 program recipients in FY 2016. For the Passenger Ferry Program, FTA received 21 proposals from 10 states and the U.S. Virgin Island requesting $98 million. FTA funded 18 projects for a total of $59 million. Passenger Ferry project selections includes funds for Fiscal Years 2015 and 16. FTA made approximately $5 billion available to 5307 program recipients. FTA awarded over 1,600 grants to Section 5307 program recipients in FY 2016. For the Passenger Ferry Program, FTA received 21 proposals from 10 states and the U.S. Virgin Island requesting $98 million. FTA funded 18 projects for a total of $59 million. Passenger Ferry project selections includes funds for Fiscal Years 2015 and 16.
Fiscal Year 2017 FTA is expected to make approximately $5 billion available to 5307 program recipients. FTA is expected to award over 1,100 grants to Section 5307 program recipients in FY 2017. FTA is expected to competitively allocate $30 million for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program.
Fiscal Year 2018 FTA made approximately $5 billion available to 5307 program recipients. FTA awarded over 1,600 grants to Section 5307 program recipients in FY 2018. Under the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, FTA has allocated $118.9 million to 44 projects in 15 states plus Puerto Rico.
Fiscal Year 2019 FTA is expected to make approximately $5 billion available to 5307 program recipients. FTA is expected to award over 1,200 grants to Section 5307 program recipients in FY 2019. FTA is expected to competitively allocate $30 million for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program.
Fiscal Year 2020 FTA successfully allowed Urbanized Area funding to be available for transit related expenses in response to COVID-19 under the Emergency Relief flexibility prior to the enactment of Supplemental Bills (CARES Act, CRRSAA, and ARP). As a result of supplemental funding, agencies were granted funding for operating expenses to maintain transit services as well as pay transit workers across the country not working because of the public health emergency. It also included the provision of personal protective equipment for transit employees and special-purpose trips when needed. This historic grant funding ensured our nation’s public transportation systems could continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who depend on them.
Fiscal Year 2021 FTA selected 11 projects through the Passenger Ferry Grant program in 11 states and territories totaling $45 million to fund capital projects that support existing passenger ferry service, establish new ferry service, or repair and modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment
Fiscal Year 2022 The FY 2022 full-year apportionment, which supports all of FTA’s diverse competitive and formula programs, supersede partial-year tables posted in February 2022. The full-year amounts significantly increase funding for many programs, including; $6.9 billion for the Urbanized Area Formula Program, which supports transit agencies in large U.S. cities and suburbs, 29% more than the FY21 funding level; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Public Law 117-58, 49 U.S.C. 5307
Public Law 116-136
Public Law 116-260
Public Law 117-2
49 U.S.C. 5340
Federal Fiscal Year 2022 was the first year covered by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was enacted in November of 2021. Prior to enactment of the IIJA, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act-Public Law 114-94) was the active legislation authorizing the Federal Formula Transit Grants Program for urbanized areas (49 U.S.C. 5307). In addition, the CARES Act (Pub. L 116-136) on March 27, 2020; CRRSAA (Pub. L. 116-260) on December 27, 2020; and ARPA (Pub. L. 117-2) on March 11, 2021, made a significant amount of supplemental funding available under the Urbanized Area Program (Section 5307) in support of the transit industry’s operating expenses or other expenses generally eligible under this program to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Recipients continue to draw down this funding in FY 23. This listing also includes funds authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5340 that are attributable to urbanized areas. Funds will be made available for urbanized areas (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and in 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53) through states and designated recipients, which must be public entities and have the legal capacity to receive and dispense federal funds. A state's or territory's Governor, responsible local officials, and publicly owned operators of mass transportation services must jointly select the designated recipient(s) for an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or more. The Governor or her/his designee acts as the designated recipient for an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 to 199,999. Recipients must submit a program of projects detailing how the funds will be used and by whom to FTA; submit a program application to FTA; enter into formal agreements with FTA; and certify that certain public participation requirements have been met. The general public (both users and non-users of public transportation); segments of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income; and publicly owned operators of public transportation services. Under certain conditions, private non-profit organizations and their constituents may also benefit from the assistance. The following documentation must be submitted prior to award of a formula grant under this program: A resolution by an authorized public body approving the filing of an application, the transportation improvement program (TIP) of the respective urbanized area's metropolitan planning organization (MPO), and the statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) of the respective state approved by FTA and FHWA. In addition, depending on the project for which funds are proposed to be used, information must be provided on labor agreements, environmental impacts of proposed projects, legal capacity, financial capacity, technical capacity, use of competitive procurements, asset maintenance plans, coordinated regional planning, and compliance with certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. Eligible costs must be in accordance with OMB Circular 2 CFR 200. Prior to the award of a discretionary grant under this program, applicants must submit a project application based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity published annually in the Federal Register. A notice is published annually in the Federal Register on FTA's fiscal year apportionments and applications. The notice contains a list of the amount apportioned to each urbanized area and the total available for discretionary award. You can find current and prior year notices on FTA's website at: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/apportionments or by contacting the appropriate FTA Regional Office to obtain copies or publication dates. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An applicant should consult its regional FTA office, state, or designated recipient for more information on the process to be followed in applying for assistance. Depending on the nature of the project to be financed, an environmental impact assessment may be required. In addition, an environmental impact statement may also be required. Other pre-application coordination pertaining to an applicant's demonstration of appropriate capacity to carry out a proposed project may also apply. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87 and 49 CFR Part 18. Applications are to be submitted in the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS), which is the FTA electronic grant-making and record keeping system. An FTA grant award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. To access funds, the recipient must execute the grant agreement. This program is comprised of both formula and competitive funds. Funds are primarily awarded via grant applications processed by FTA Regional Offices. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 15 to 30 days. From the date of the application submittal in FTA's Transit Award Management System (TrAMS), the approximate time of award is 15 to 30 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. Projects must be eligible public transportation projects and meet all formula grant requirements. Discretionary projects must respond to a list of criteria published in the Notice of Funding Opportunity as part of the application process. Funds may be used for capital projects to finance the planning, design, acquisition, construction, lease, improvement, and maintenance of equipment and facilities for use in transit. For urbanized areas with populations under 200,000 and urbanized areas with 200,000 or more in population with recipients operating 100 or fewer vehicles in peak service, funds may be used to finance transit operating costs for modes other than rail fixed-guideway. Recipients of these grants are required to make information available to the public and to publish a program of projects to afford affected citizens opportunities through public hearings to submit comments on the proposed program and the performance of the recipient. In addition, a Passenger Ferry Grant Program component awards funding on a competitive discretionary selection basis. Performance Reports: See audit requirements in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F. No additional audit requirements. Recipient is required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of the final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records and supporting documents. Statutory Formula: Title 49 USC Chapter 53 Part 5336 Public Law 112-141 The formula that drives amounts made available for use in urbanized areas is based on urbanized area population, low-income population, and population density for urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000. Urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 may also receive additional funding based on whether they exceed in certain performance factors the average with respect to those factors for urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but less than 1,000,000. For urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more, amounts made available are based on population, low-income population, population density, transit vehicle revenue miles, passenger miles, fixed-guideway directional route miles, operating expenses, and whether commuter rail operates within the urbanized area.

Matching is mandatory. The program operates under the statutory formula prescribed in 49 U.S.C. 5336. The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital and planning expenses. The Federal share may be 90 percent for the cost of vehicle-related equipment and facilities attributable to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act or 85 percent for the cost of a vehicle that complies with these requirements. The Federal share may not exceed 50 percent of the net cost for operating assistance.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds apportioned under the Federal Transit Formula Grants - Urbanized Area Formula Program are available for obligation by the Governor, designated recipient, or other grant recipient authorized by the Governor or designated recipient for a period of 5 years following the close of the fiscal year for which such funds are apportioned. Any amounts remaining unobligated at the end of this period are distributed among all urbanized areas. Reimbursement of eligible project expenses See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of Federal Transit Administration regional offices. Bret Martin
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590 US
bret.martin@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-0870

Vanessa Williams
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590 US
Vanessa.Williams@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-4818 http://www.transit.dot.gov/ 69-1129-0-1-401 (Formula Grants) FY 22$6,542,671,000.00; FY 23 est $6,795,995,000.00; FY 24 est $7,375,918,000.00; FY 21$5,943,464,000.00; FY 20$7,230,865,551.00; FY 19$6,557,762,828.00; FY 18$6,583,267,878.00; FY 17$5,568,835,693.00; FY 16$4,538,905,700.00; - (Formula Grants) FY 22$40,000,000.00; FY 23 FY 24 FY 21$110,000,000.00; FY 20$20,000,000.00; FY 19 - Transit Infrastructure Grants(Formula Grants) FY 22$311,315,000.00; FY 23 est $127,418,000.00; FY 24 FY 21$970,557,000.00; FY 20$21,443,046,609.00; FY 19 - 2020 CARES ACT (69X2812)(Formula Grants) FY 22$18,937,602,000.00; FY 23 est $2,139,944,000.00; FY 24 est $51,834,000.00; FY 21$7,051,940,000.00; FY 20 - ARPA 2021 (69-2812-21/24(Formula Grants) FY 22$5,844,498,000.00; FY 23 est $712,854,000.00; FY 24 est $67,497,000.00; FY 21$6,750,724,000.00; FY 20 - CRRSA Act 2021 (69X2812) We cannot provide an approximate average range, as it varies according to local programming of available formula funds and the level of operating expenses incurred. FY 2020- $22,696,291,664 was made available for supplemental CARES ACT funding. Formula Grant Application Instructions may be accessed on the FTA website or secured at no charge from the FTA Regional Offices - FTA Circular 9030.1E, "Urbanized Area Formula Program: Program Guidance and Application Instructions," January 16, 2014. Fiscal Year 2016 Centre Area Transportation Authority will use approximately $5 million for facility expansion and upgrade. King County Department of Transportation received $3.9 million to replace the passenger only ferry docking float and expand the docking capacity to relaunch or start routes to downtown Seattle, WA. Centre Area Transportation Authority received $5 million for facility expansion and upgrade. King County Department of Transportation received $3.9 million to replace the passenger only ferry docking float and expand the docking capacity to re-launch or start routes to downtown Seattle, WA.
Fiscal Year 2017 A transit agency received approximately $135 million to purchase buses for public transportation. Another transit agency received $3.9 million to replace the passenger-only ferry docking float and expand the docking capacity.
Fiscal Year 2018 A transit agency will receive approximately $11 million for preventive maintenance for its buses and supporting facilities. Another transit agency will receive $5 million to refurbish and modernize a ferry vessel.
Fiscal Year 2019 A transit agency will receive funds for operating assistance for paratransit service. Another transit agency will receive funds to replace a pier that supports ferry service.
Fiscal Year 2020 The Municipality of Anchorage will use $18.6 million of CARES Act grant award to support operating expenses to maintain public transportation services throughout the Anchorage metropolitan area during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority (GoTriangle) in Durham, North Carolina will use $7.9 million of CARES Act award for operating, administrative and preventive maintenance expenses, which are necessary to support its transit services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Jacksonville, Florida, will receive $5.2 million to modernize an existing passenger vessel to ensure a state of good repair and to purchase a new passenger vessel for service expansion.
Fiscal Year 2022 Recipients of urbanized area formula grants have obligated the available funds for a broad range of activities. Recipients have obligated the funds to support transit operations; purchase and maintain transit vehicles and facilities; plan, design, and construct passenger-facing transit facilities and amenities; etc. COVID relief funds made available in FYs 2020 and 2021 have been and continue to be used to support transit operations and to provide payroll relief to transit agencies' workforces that would otherwise be adversely impacted by inactivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.