Technical Assistance and Workforce Development

 

The goals and objectives for Technical Assistance and Workforce Development projects vary according to the type of project. Eligible activities include: Technical assistance and Standards to more effectively and efficiently provide public transportation service; administer funds received under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 in compliance with federal law; and improve public transportation; address Human Resources needs, provide Training; support Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development; and operate a National Transit Institute. Technical Assistance can support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); compliance with human services transportation coordination requirements; meeting the transportation needs of elderly individuals; increasing transit ridership with Metropolitan Planning Organizations; addressing transportation equity; facilitating best practices to promote bus driver safety; meeting the requirements 5323(j) (Buy America) and 5323(m) (Pre and Post-Award Audits); assisting with the development and deployment of low or no emission vehicles; and any other technical assistance activities the Secretary of Transportation determines is necessary to advance the interests of public transportation. Standards programs and projects include developing voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry, including standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, Intelligent Transportation Systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics. Human Resources and Training programs may include: 1) Employment training programs; (2) Outreach to specific under-represented populations in the workforce; (3) Research on public transportation personnel and training needs; (4) Training and assistance for veteran and minority business opportunities; and (5) Consensus-based national training standards and certifications in partnership with industry stakeholders. The Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development Program focuses on: (1) developing apprenticeships, on-the job training, and instructional training for public transportation maintenance and operations occupations; (2) building local, regional, and statewide public transportation training partnerships with local public transportation operators, labor union organizations, workforce development boards, and State workforce agencies to identify and address workforce skill gaps; (3) improving safety, security, and emergency preparedness in local public transportation systems through improved safety culture and workforce communication with first responders and the riding public; and (4) addressing current or projected workforce shortages by developing partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and other community organizations. The National Transit Institute will develop and conduct training and educational programs for Federal, State, and local transportation employees, United States citizens and foreign nationals engaged or to be engaged in public transportation work.

Active 20.531 Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; L - Dissemination of Technical Information; M - Training Fiscal Year 2016 In the Technical Assistance program FTA considered 16 applications for funding and approved up to 3 awards to grant in this area for the Fiscal Year 2016. Project activities to be funded are: the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, and the National Center for Mobility Management, as well as other essential standards and technical assistance projects in the safety, planning, and disadvantaged business areas. The projects will allow FTA to continue to partner with experienced national nonprofit and other organizations to provide training and guidance on how to effectively implement transit programs and meet federal requirements. Accomplishments for this section are included in CFDA 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2017 Accomplishments data for this section are included in assistance listing 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2018 FUNDED PROJECTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY 2018 INCLUDE: FTA funded activities in Technical Assistance, Standards, Human Resources and Training. Project/Program accomplishments for FY 2018 include: 1) FTA funded the National Transit Institute program which serves all of FTA funding programs in developing and conducting training for federal, state, and local transportation employees and others in a variety positions relevant to the transit industry. NTI planned to increase training course delivery by 1 percent and number of participants trained; therefore, the goal was delivering 210 training courses to over 7,300 participants. NTI training is conducted throughout the United States for all transit properties and others to attend. 2) FTA funded the TRB Core Program Support at the National Academy of Sciences; the goal was to increase attendance annually and was achieved. The program supports the exchange of transit research information and results at the national level as well as technical assistance for transit entities working at the state and local levels. Research results are made available to the transit industry through the TRB Annual Meeting in January; which served over 13,600 people from 183 transit agencies. 3) The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) was being re-competed and a notice of funding opportunity was released in the Summer of FY 2018. 4) FTA funded the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) project to support the partnerships developed and created more technical centers for targeted populations. 5) FTA increased funding for safety standards, safety technical assistance, and safety projects to provide transit agencies with promising practices and volunteer standards that can increase worker and passenger safety.
Fiscal Year 2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR PROJECTS FUNDED IN FY 2019 INCLUDE: FTA funded projects: in Technical Assistance, Standards, and Training Projects. 1) The National Transit Institute (NTI) served all of FTA programs by developing and conducting training for federal, state, and local transportation employees and others in a variety positions relevant to the transit industry. NTI delivered 272 training courses throughout the U.S. to 8,010 participants. NTI conducted five webinars promoting TCRP research products. The average number of webinar attendees was 148. NTI's webinar on Battery Electric Buses-State of the practice had 371 attendees, the most attendees of any webinar in FY 2019. 2) The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) completed the last year of its initial five-year agreement and began the initial year of its second five-year agreement (NCMM II). Activities achieved in FY 2019 include issuing planning grants, holding webinars and information sharing sessions, developing training, developing publicly available materials/guides, and providing technical assistance. 3) The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) activities achieved broad outreach in FY 2019. Approximately 550 people participated in NADTC online courses and webinars, and more than 1,400 attended conference presentations given by NADTC staff from January to June 2019. From January to June 2019, there were more than 7,500 downloads of NADTC documents, webinars, and other resources from the NADTC website. 4) The Transit Standards Development Program conducted research and analysis in safety areas recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and provided a mechanism for FTA to engage closely with stakeholders, standards development organizations, and industry standards working groups. The program produced internal reports that help to guide and support FTA's safety program. 5) The Transit Standards Development Program project worked with the American Public Transportation Association to update 33 of 77 standards documents that help improve the performance, reliability, efficiency, and safety of transit systems.
Fiscal Year 2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING FY 2020. FTA funded various projects under the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development in areas such as Technical Assistance, Standards Development, Human Resources/Workforce, and Training. Projects funded accomplishments during FY 2020 include: 1). The National Transit Institute (NTI) delivered 170 training courses both on-site and virtually to 6,459 participants. NTI witnessed a reduction of training courses delivered and course participants in FY 2020 because of course cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NTI is now expanding its virtual course delivery capabilities, online, and webinar-based portfolio. 2). The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), launched online courses, conducted webinars, provided targeted technical assistance, published a newsletter, and developed publicly available resources. Also, NADTC conducted a national survey of core constituencies to identify transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities and provide grant assistance to local communities for implementation of innovative transportation solutions and creating replicable models of excellence. Approximately 847 people participated in NADTC online courses and webinars and more than 390 attended conference presentations given by NADTC staff. 3). The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) accomplished the following activities in FY 2020: held webinars and information sharing sessions, developed e-learning training courses, developed publicly available materials/guides, and provided technical assistance to public transit agencies through various methods. It helped train mobility management practitioners on emerging service models and new technologies that increase mobility and also supported the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM). 4). The Transit Automation Technical Assistance program produced an internal technical assistance needs assessment findings document and developed a framework/scope for the Community of Practice Initiative. Through this program, FTA has been developing a greater understanding of the state of transit bus automation and the potential opportunities for transit bus automation to improve safety and performance. 5). The Crime Prevention and Public Safety Awareness program, a component of FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative, selected three organizations to receive funding through cooperative agreements to develop and disseminate technical assistance materials supporting public safety awareness campaigns that address public safety in transit systems, including crime prevention, human trafficking, and operator assault.
Fiscal Year 2021 FY 2021 FUNDED ASSISTANCE LISTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: FTA supports various types of projects under Technical Assistance and Workforce Development. Projects in the areas Technical Assistance, Standards Development, Human Resources/Workforce, and Training. Accomplishments FUNDED in FY 2021 include: 1) The National Transit Institute (NTI). FTA funded the National Transit Institute (NTI) and NTI delivered 162 training courses virtually to 6,177 transit and transportation professionals. Between lockdowns, shut-downs, quarantines, and closures, COVID-19 changed the way training is delivered. Even though NTI experienced a sharp reduction in the delivery of training courses compared to pre-COVID years, NTI quickly made drastic adjustments and successfully delivered some training courses to the public transportation industry. NTI continues to expand its virtual course portfolio with plans to continue 100% virtual course delivery until January 2022 and, potentially, resume a limited scheduled of on-site course offerings soon after. 2) Transit Workforce Center. FTA announced a notice of funding opportunity and awarded the Transit Workforce (TWC) in FY 2021. The TWC has assisted over 20 transit agencies and through their webinars reached several thousand people providing technical assistance to address the critical transit workforce shortages. 3) TRB CORE Program. FTA funded the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Core Program to support FTA staff attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting and access to TRB reports and webinars. This project provided FTA staff with access to all online TRB resources including the Transportation Research International Documentation (TRID) database. General support for 175 TRB standing committees and TRB processes approximately 30,000 new transportation-related publications into TRID per year. 4) Transit Survey Data Archiving and Analysis. FTA funded the Transit Survey Data Archiving and Analysis project to prevent valuable transportation datasets from becoming lost or destroyed and to make these data available for legitimate research while at the same time safeguarding survey participants privacy. The project focused on establishing a standardized workflow to convert transit survey databases into the Transportation Secure Data Center (TSDC) and reconfiguring the TSDC website and secure portal environment to provide navigable branches for accessing transit survey data. Through this project, FTA will provide opportunities for research and others with an interest in transit to better understand the characteristics and travel patterns of the users of public transit. 5) The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) promoted the mobility of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that public transportation supports independent living in communities. NADTC completed a national diversity, equity and inclusion initiative; conducted a coordination campaign including a national coordination committee; provided online courses, webinars, and targeted technical assistance; hosted a learning collaborative published a monthly newsletter and monthly blogs; actively participated on social media; maintained an updated website; and developed useful resources including an annual trends report. NADTS’s activities achieved broad outreach. Approximately 2,237 people.
Fiscal Year 2022 ASSISTANCE LISTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FUNDED PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2022. Accomplishments of funded projects in FY 2022 include: 1) FTA funded the Human Trafficking Awareness project having public safety officers on transit buses part of the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Awareness Program. The objective of having officers on board will help to identify and reduce any instances of human trafficking, protect transit operators from risk of assault, reduce crime on transit vehicles and at transit facilities, and improve rider as well as public safety. This effort is part of FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative. 2) FTA funded the National Transit Institute (NTI). NTI transitioned 18 courses to a virtual platform. NTI delivered 169 virtual training courses to 4,697 transit and transportation professionals. 3) FTA funded the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Core Program to support FTA staff attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting and access to TRB reports and webinars. This project included strong FTA staff attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting and providing FTA staff with access to all online TRB resources, including the Transportation Research International Documentation (TRID) database. Research sponsors use TRID to avoid costly duplication and assure timely dissemination of results. TRB processes approximately 30,000 new transportation-related publications into TRID per year. FTA also sponsored the TRANSED accessibility, mobility, and demand response international virtual conference. 4) FTA successfully entered into an agreement for the project Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS) standards that enables public transportation agencies, communities, and States to access resilient and flexible power options through hybrid electric bus fleet vehicles during major power disruptions. FTA hosted a webinar on the Standard Development for Bus Exportable Power Systems Notice of Funding Opportunity. FTA announced the recipient selected for award. 5) FTA funded the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) and relevant activities in FY 2022 include developing resources to help rural, small-urban, and tribal transit providers understand the benefits of emerging technology and how to use the technology in their own transit systems. The resources developed included reports, training, online tools, podcasts, fact sheets, webinars, and in-person workshops. N-CATT also provided direct technical assistance at the state and local levels to help transit providers address transit technology issues.
Fiscal Year 2023 ASSISTANCE LISTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EXPECT TO FUND PROJECTS DURING FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2023. Accomplishments of expect to fund projects during FY 2023 include: 1) FTA expects to accomplish funding a project to the National Academy of Sciences for the Transportation Research Board Core Program Support for technical activities. The project provides strong FTA attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting, access to research databases, and dissemination tools, and support for the 175 TRB standing committees. 2) FTA expects to continuously fund the National Transit Institute (NTI) program: Increasing the number of training courses for virtual delivery by 3; returning to classroom training on site; NTI adopting new administrative procedures to allow for FTA Region Designated seats in virtual courses; establishing social media presence; issuing digital certificates; developing new operational and administrative procedures to accommodate virtual delivery platform that includes: 1) Virtual Participant Code of Conduct; 2) Virtual course attendance sheet; 3) hire instructors with virtual training abilities; 4) develop 4-hour, virtual instructor training courses; revision of “Host Request Form” priority will be given to hosts with high quality amenities and more. NTI expects to accomplish recruiting, hiring, and training addition al instructors; developing one new virtual leadership and management course; and virtually offering tiered technical courses. 3) FTA expects to continue funding the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) multi-year project. The Center provides training, technical assistance, best practice resources, partnerships with other national centers and industry organizations, and seed funding for targeted local projects. NADTC released findings from the national diversity, equity, and inclusion survey that was conducted in early 2021; convened focus groups of diverse older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers; created a new educational method of Learning Shorts; provided online courses, webinars, and targeted technical assistance; hosted a learning collaborative and provided technical assistance for FTA direct grantees; published a monthly newsletter and monthly blogs; actively participated on social media; maintained an updated website and added a multimedia resource page and learning center page; and developed useful resources including an annual trends report. NADTC provided grant assistance to local communities for planning and implementation of innovative transportation solutions and creating replicable models of excellence and coordination. From October 1, 2021, through March 30, 2022, 2,352 people participated in NADTC online courses, webinars, and conference presentations. There were 32,185 total visitors to the NADTC website, 28,101 new and 4,085 returning visitors – from October 2021 through March 2022. 4) FTA is expecting to receive multiple proposals from the release of a notice of funding opportunity for the Technology Transfer, Outreach, and Dissemination Program. 5) FTA expects project activities to start for the Bus Exportable Power Systems project. 5) FTA expects to announce the organization selected from the competitive notice of funding opportunity released for the Transit Standards Development Program in FY 2023.
Fiscal Year 2024 ASSISTANCE LISTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANTICIPATED PROJECTS TO FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2024. Accomplishments of anticipated project funding activities in Technical Assistance, Standards and Workforce Development for FY 2024 include: 1) FTA anticipates continuing to fund the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) project activities until 2025. The NADTC’s goal is to promote the mobility of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that public transportation supports independent living in communities. 2) FTA anticipates entering into an agreement with the selected awardee of the Transit Standards Development project under Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program. All project activities will start in FY 2024. 3) FTA anticipates continuing to fund the statutory program the National Transit Institute (NTI) under FTA’s Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program. NTI will develop and conduct a hybrid platform of quality virtual and in-person courses, educational programs, and webinars for Federal, State, and local government employees. NTI plans to develop a virtual 90-minute course titled “An Overview and Summary of the Public Transportation Industry.” NTI plans to offer 4-hour training on Fleet Transition Plan; revised the Assault Awareness course. NTI plans to develop 12 to 16 survey courses (60/90/120-min.) for transit industry conference deliveries. NTI anticipates redesigning and launching a new, user-friendly website. 4) FTA anticipates continuing to fund the Transportation Research Board Core Program Support for technical activities. The project provides strong FTA attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting, access to research databases, and dissemination tools, and support for the 175 TRB standing committees. 5) FTA anticipates establishing and implementing a new Workforce Internship Program under the Transit Workforce Center. The Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs (IIJA) Act (Public Law No. 117-53), signed into law on November 15, 2021, 49 U.S.C. Section 5314/IIJA Section 30017, Public Law 117-53, 49 US Code 5312., Public Law 114-94, 49 U.S.C. 5314
Federal Public Transportation Law authorizes $11,841,465 for fiscal year 2022, $12,088,846 for fiscal year 2023, $12,404,500 for fiscal year 2024, $12,660,748 for fiscal year 2025, and $12,982,608 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out a range of Technical Assistance and Workforce Development activities (Under the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund). Of the $11 million made available in FY 2022, $12 million in FY 2023, $12.4 million in FY 2024, $12.6 million in FY 2025 and $12.9 million in FY 2026; $6.5 million in FY 2022, $6.7 million in FY 2023, $6.8 million in FY 2024, $7 million for FY 2025 and $7.2 million for FY 2026 is provided to continue the operation of the National Transit Institute (NTI) at a public 4-year degree granting institution of higher learning. This section also allows for the Secretary to make grants to fund the development of transit standards, technical assistance provided by qualified national non-profit organizations, employment training programs (including assistance to veterans and minority populations), apprenticeship programs, and other education programs. The law also allows up to 0.5% of funding from Section 5307 to be utilized for workforce development activities. Federal Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government; Metropolitan Planning Organizations; State and local governmental entities; providers of public transportation; and national non-profit organizations (that have the appropriate demonstrated capacity to provide public transportation-related technical assistance); public four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) to carry-out the duties of the institute. State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization and Private nonprofit institution/organization. Specific applicant eligibility may vary with different program areas within this section. FTA will specify the credentials and documentation required in an online application system, at the program manager direction and/or in the individual notices of funding opportunity published to support the various sections and program purposes. Applicants must provide proof or establish a copy of their negotiated approved indirect cost rate agreement from their cognizant agency prior to or along with their application for assistance. At a minimum, applications for funding should follow requirements listed in FTA Circular 6100.1E, "Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines" and include the standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications ("Instructions for Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Form"), project objectives, goals, tasks, background, and project description, including schedule, budget, a data management plan, and applicant's organizational experience. Applicants approved must do a resolution by an authorized body approving the filing of an application; and complete certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. Legal opinion and compliance with labor requirements are required later. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement 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. Applicants should consult FTA Circular 6100.1E, "Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program: Application Instructions". 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. FTA outlines the application requirements and merit process in each grant program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicitation for proposals. Applicants are required to use Grants.gov to apply for funds. Accepted competitive applications are subject to evaluation. Applications are made to the Headquarters office of the Federal Transit Administration. Grant Agreement or Cooperative Agreement payments are made in a monthly web-based e-Invoicing system upon approval by the Program Manager. This program is subject to the provisions of FTA Circular 6100.1E, "Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines." FTA Circular 5010.1E, "Award Management Requirements," assist recipients in administering, managing and reporting responsibilities. Potential applicants should follow the instructions in these Circulars, which may be found at the FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/fta-circulars/final-circulars. FTA's method of entering into an Award (obligation) of Federal assistance (funds) is through: grant agreements, cooperative agreements, interagency agreements, and/or use contracts as a procurement mechanism (to purchase services for the direct benefit or use of the Federal Government). Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded electronically using FTA's online systems - the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). To access this web-based system, a user name and password are needed and can be obtained by contacting the appropriate FTA staff. The Federal Transit Administrator makes the final decision to approve a project. To access funds, the recipient must execute the Agreement and be set-up in FTA's e-Invoicing financial system. Technical assistance and standards activities funded under this section require an evaluation of the project activities and reporting of measurable outcomes and impacts of the programs' results. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Date range varies. Not applicable. This assistance listing is renewed annually. Recipients are required to update their statement of work for projects of an ongoing nature and submit a current year budget. A project amendment may be requested for additional time to complete a project. Selection criteria may vary depending upon the type of program being selected. Competitive selection information is contained in the Federal Register Notices or published Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Directed agreement criteria are established by program managers and noted in application instructions. See Objectives. Generally, the program supports technical assistance, training, workforce projects, and standards development not undertaken by the private sector. Funding will provide for training and educational programs which may include courses in recent developments, techniques, and procedures related to intermodal and public transportation planning; management; environmental factors; acquisition and joint use rights-of-way; engineering and architectural design; procurement strategies for public transportation systems; new technologies; emission reduction technologies; ways to increase public transportation access to individuals with disabilities; construction, construction management, insurance, and risk management, maintenance; contract administration; inspection; innovative finance; workplace safety; and public transportation security. This program funds technical assistance to assist providers of public transportation to: Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); comply with human services transportation coordination requirements and enhance the coordination of related Federal resources; meet the transportation needs of elderly individuals; and address transportation equity. The program can also fund innovative workforce development activities in the areas with special emphasis on targeting areas with high unemployment; provide advanced training related to maintenance of alternative energy efficient or zero emission vehicle; and address current or projected workforce shortages in areas that require technical expertise. In addition, it will provide for the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry, including standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, Intelligent Transportation Systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics. Depending on the specific funding program, the eligibility of recipients, projects, and federal share may vary. To the extent FTA allocates the funding through a competitive notice of funding availability, FTA will specify eligibility and requirements in a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Performance Reports: A performance report is a final technical document required at the end of a project agreement before closing it. The performance report describes where the project stands summarizing progress made toward the achievement of scientific aims and identifies significant outcomes, including a technical evaluation of the project and an executive summary. Not applicable. Recipients shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the Award (Assistance Agreement). Statutory Formula: Title Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Chapter 53 Public Law 49 U.S.C. 5314 Technical Assistance and Standards – The government share of the cost of an activity carried out using a grant may not exceed 80 percent. The nongovernment share of the costs of an activity carried out using a grant may be derived from in-kind contributions. Human Resources and Training, including Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development Program – The government share of the cost of project carried out using a grant shall be 50 percent. Allow recipients to use up to 0.5 percent of their section 5307, 5337 and 5339 funds to support Workforce Development program activities and partake in NTI training under section 5314, at up to 80 percent.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The period of time varies with the complexity of the project. FTA projects are programmatically approved for support in their entirety (generally for up to 5 years) but assistance is awarded in annual increments called budget periods. Terms and conditions are agreed on between FTA and the applicant. Funds are available until expended. Payments are made on a monthly e-Invoicing system upon submittal of a reimbursable invoice being approved. The Secretary makes decisions regarding what projects will be funded from this section, typically this process occurs yearly through a selection process that begins once appropriations are final. Project agreements will vary depending upon the type of activity and what type of recipient is required. Acquisition strategies include competitive and sole source methods. Agreements can be contracts, cooperative agreements, grants or interagency agreements. None/Not specified. Betty Jackson, Senior Transportation Program Specialist (Workforce)
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.,
FTA, Office of Research, Management, Demonstration, and Outreach (TRI-30),
East Building, 4th Floor - Room E43-425
Washington, DC 20590 USA
betty.jackson@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-1730 http://www.transit.dot.gov/research 69-1142-0-1-401 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements or Contracts)) FY 22$13,020,000.00; FY 23 est $13,524,000.00; FY 24 est $14,741,000.00; FY 21$11,575,000.00; FY 20$7,250,000.00; FY 19$1,960,004.00; FY 18$5,000,000.00; - (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements or Contracts)) FY 22$5,545,000.00; FY 23 est $7,500,000.00; FY 24 est $8,000,000.00; FY 21$7,100,000.00; FY 20$1,900,000.00; FY 19$5,290,000.00; - Technical Assistance and Training 69-1142 FY 2022: Range: $250,000 to $5,000,000; Average: $1,250,000. FY 2023: Range: $300,000 to $5,000,000; Average: $1,300,000 FY 2024: No budget appropriated. Most Federal transit laws are codified at Title 49, United States Code, Chapter 53 (49 U.S.C. chapter 53). Authorizing legislation is substantive legislation enacted by Congress that establishes or continues the legal operation of a Federal program or agency. FTA's Fiscal Year Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for Federal Transit Administration Grants and Cooperative Agreements; FTA Circular 6100.1E for Research Projects; FTA Circular 4220.1F for Third-Party Contracting Guidance; and FTA Circular 5010.1E for Award Management Requirements. In certain circumstances and in other fiscal years, contact the FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation as necessary. Also, consult FTA website www.transit.dot.gov. Other information will be made available upon request. Fiscal Year 2016 FY 2016 projects approved for award under the Technical Assistance program for funding in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act are: EXAMPLES OF APPROVED FUNDED PROJECTS: • National Aging and Disability Transportation Center: The NADTC’s mission is to promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options that serve the needs of people with disabilities, seniors and caregivers with a focus on effectively leveraging FTA’s Section 5310 Enhance Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities formula grants and other transit investments. Section 5310 (I) requires FTA to collect, review, and disseminate innovative practices, program models, new service delivery options, and findings. NADTC also provides transportation-related technical assistance to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as to meet the transportation needs of elderly individuals. • National Transit Institute: Provides training to the transportation industry across a host of areas to help FTA grantees understand processes and learn tools to remain or become compliant with federal regulations. Target audiences include a broad range of titles and skill sets from paratransit operations managers, to trainers, construction managers, and project finance professionals. • National Center for Mobility Management: Under Section 3006(c) of FAST, FTA is required to implement coordinated mobility, including developing an allocated cost model, convening CCAM, and completing a CCAM strategic plan. The NCMM supports FTA in its role as the CCAM lead agency, including these requirements. In addition, NCMM facilitates the adoption of mobility management strategies and transportation options at the state and community level to leverage transportation resources and fill transportation gaps to empower people to live independently. Project examples for this section are included in CFDA 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2017 Examples of funded projects for FY 2017 are under assistance listing 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2018 FUNDED PROJECTS FOR FY 2018 INCLUDE: 1) The National Transit Institute. 2) The Transportation Research Board Core Support Program. 3) The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). 4) Continue funding the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM). 5) Funding of safety standards. For more information about the types of projects funded see FTA Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Workforce Development for FY 2018 at link https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/fta-annual-report-technical-assistance-and-workforce-development-fy-2018-report.
Fiscal Year 2019 FUNDED PROJECTS FOR FY 2019 INCLUDE: FTA supported programs in Technical Assistance, Standards, and Training. 1) Entered into a grant agreement to fund the National Transit Institute. 2) Funded an interagency agreement to support the Transit Automation Technical Assistance program that produced transit automation resources for the industry including a Transit Bus Automation Benefit-Cost Analysis Fact Sheet. 3) Funded a cooperative agreement to support a Technical Support Operational Mobility and Technology Standards project that will identify and develop (where needed) standards, recommend practices, and/or guidance documents to support the public transportation industry. 4) Awarded a cooperative agreement to support the new National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) II. 5) Continued funding the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC).
Fiscal Year 2020 FUNDED PROJECTS DURING FY 2020. FTA provided resources to support various types of projects for Technical Assistance and Workforce Development in the areas of Technical Assistance, Standards Development, Human Resources/Workforce, and Training projects funded during FY 2020 include: 1). National Transit Institute (NTI). FTA funded the NTI to expand training to cover blue-collar transit workforce training in addition to the management-level courses now offered at NTI. Also, NTI offered several courses and workshops online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking innovative approaches to continue supporting transit agencies across the United States. 2). National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT). FTA funded the N-CATT to assist small urban and rural and tribal public transit recipients with applied . innovation and capacity-building. 3). National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM). FTA funded the NCMM, which supports mobility management professionals in developing and implementing strategies that improve transportation access for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals and families. 4). National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). FTA funded the NADTC to promote the mobility of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that public transportation supports independent living in communities. 5). The Transit Standards Development Program, FTA funded this program to collect information required to develop transit standards by suggesting new or revised voluntary standards, guidelines, and best practices.
Fiscal Year 2021 2021 FUNDED PROJECTS INCLUDE. FTA funded and scheduled to fund various types of projects for Technical Assistance and Workforce Development in the areas Technical Assistance, Standards Development, Human Resources/Workforce and Training to include: 1). The National Transit Institute (NTI). Funded a Public Transit Institute, the National Transit Institute (NTI), to expand training platforms virtually to cover blue-collar transit workforce training in addition to the management-level courses now offered at NTI. 2). The National Aging and Disabilities Transportation Center (NADTC). Funded the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The NADTC promotes the mobility of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that public transportation supports independent living in communities. It also provides training, technical assistance, best practice resources, partnerships with other national centers and industry organizations, and seed funding for targeted local projects. 3). Transportation Research Board CORE Program. Restarted the broad relationship with TRB Core program. This supports and facilitate the exchange of transit research information and results at the national level, while also providing access to TRB’s core technical activities such as the TRB Annual Meeting, standing committees and task forces, and research archival and dissemination tools such as TRB’s extensive library, online database, and webinars. 4). Transit Workforce Center. Funded the first Transit Workforce Center (TWC), that will support public transit agencies’ workforce development needs for all modes of public transit across urban, Tribal, and rural entities. Its overall mission is to help transit agencies recruit, hire, train, and retain the diverse workforce needed for today and the future. 5). Crime Prevention and Public Safety Awareness Program. FTA is scheduled to fund selected safety projects that support the technical assistance as part of FTA’s Crime Prevention and Public Safety Awareness program. The program will develop and disseminate technical assistance materials supporting public safety awareness campaigns that address public safety in transit systems, including crime prevention, human trafficking, and operator assault.
Fiscal Year 2022 FUNDED PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2022. FTA provided resources to support projects in the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program funded in FY 2022 include: 1) FTA funded the project Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS) standards to advance widespread design and use of hybrid electric and fuel cell transit buses to be used as mobile power generators in FY 2022. The goal of this program is to develop national interoperable BEPS standards so that different manufacturers’ systems can use the same technology base and applications for BEPS solutions. 2) FTA funded the National Transit Institute (NTI) to expand training platforms virtually to cover blue-collar transit workforce training in addition to the management-level courses now offered at NTI. 3) FTA entered into an agreement awarding a project to the National Academy of Sciences for the broad relationship with Transportation Research Board (TRB) Core program. This supports and facilitate the exchange of transit research information and results at the national level, while also providing access to TRB’s core technical activities such as the TRB Annual Meeting, standing committees and task forces, and research archival and dissemination tools such as TRB’s extensive library, online database, and webinars. 4) FTA funded the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) under the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program to assist small urban, rural, and tribal public transit recipients and planning organizations with applied innovation and capacity building. 5) FTA funded a Research to Practice (R2P) Initiative project to develop and maintain a research-to-practice strategy to expand awareness of promising research results so transit agencies can adopt them. The goals of this project are to: 1) identify highest impact research to practice methods for the public transit industry; 2) assess and evaluate the adoptability and effectiveness of the methods derived from the literature review for use in public transportation; 3) develop an R2P plan; and 4) create an outreach program for FTA’s research results to increase adoption of proven solutions.
Fiscal Year 2023 EXPECT TO FUND PROJECTS DURING FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2023 INCLUDE - FTA expects to support funding projects in the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program areas during FY 2023 include: 1) FTA expects to make an award to the National Academy of Sciences for the Transportation Research Board Core Program Support for technical activities. 2) FTA expects to fund the National Transit Institute (NTI) program, to transition courses to a virtual platform, expand training to cover blue-collar transit workforce training, management-level courses and develop truncated course versions to deliver at annual Transit State Association conferences. In addition, establish formal partnerships with National Transit and Transportation Associations in an effort to grow its industry reach, create a suite of development initiatives for NTI instructors, and design and manage a NTI employment development program. 3) FTA expects to issue a notice of funding opportunity solicitation for the Transit Standards Development Program an organization to develop voluntary standards and standards-related best practices, guidance, and tools in safety and other areas that improve public transportation by directly engaging and working with transit stakeholders. 4) FTA expects to fund activities of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The NADTC’s goal is to promote the mobility of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that public transportation supports independent living in communities. 5) FTA expects to release a new notice of funding opportunity for the Technology Transfer, Outreach, and Dissemination Program in FY 2023.
Fiscal Year 2024 ANTICIPATED PROJECTS TO FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2024. FTA anticipates funding the program Technical Assistance and Workforce Development projects planned for FY 2024 include: 1) FTA anticipates funding the Transportation Research Board Core Program Support for technical activities. 2) FTA anticipates continuing to fund the National Transit Institute activities to develop and conduct courses, educational programs, and webinars for Federal, State, and local government employees and for non-profit leaders engaged in government funded public transportation work. 3) FTA anticipates continuing to fund activities of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center across several areas to improve public transportation. 4) FTA anticipates funding a new workforce internship program. 5) FTA anticipates project activities will start for the Technology Transfer, Outreach, and Dissemination Program in FY 2024.