FTA and Tribal Transit Program Past, Present, and Future NW TTAP and BIA Symposium Portland, OR March 18, 2015
Agenda FTA Overview Funding FTA funding available for Tribal Transit How to Access FTA Funding Results of the FTA Tribal Transit Program Technical Assistance Best Practices Questions and Discussion 2
Federal Transit Administration One of 9 modal administrations of USDOT ~ 520 staff HQ in DC 10 Regional Offices $11 Billion annual budget in 2015 3
FTA Region 10 Portfolio Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington 100 active grantees Awarded 233 Grants Totaling $716 Million in FY 2014 4
FTA s Mission Improve Public Transportation for America s Communities
How does FTA funding work? Congress Passes laws Appropriates funds FTA Sets policy & requirements Awards grants Provides TA Conducts oversight
FTA Grant Program Types Formula Grant Programs How much money a grantee receives is determined by a formula established by law Discretionary Grant Programs Congress or FTA determines, at their discretion, how much money an individual grantee receives for a specific project 7
Who Receives FTA Funds? Transit Agencies State Department of Transportation Local Government and Public Agencies Non-Profit Transportation Providers Indian Tribes Universities / Research Centers Consultants / Contractors 8
What does FTA fund? Capital Projects Operating Assistance Planning State Safety Oversight (for passenger rail) Research and Demonstration Projects Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Projects Emergency Relief 9
Transportation in Rural Areas 10
USDOT / FTA Initiatives Ladders of Opportunity Rides to Wellness Safety and Security Transit Pedestrian Bike Beyond Traffic 2045 America s 30 Year Transportation Vision 11
FTA Tribal Transit Program Tribal Transit Program (TTP) Objective Provide direct funding to federally recognized Indian tribes to provide public transportation service on and around Indian reservations or tribal land in rural areas. Eligible Recipients Federally recognized Indian tribes Alaska native villages, groups or communities as identified by the US Department of Interior 12
FTA Tribal Transit Program Federally Recognized Tribes Native Entities within the State of Alaska Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington Total 4 10 28 42 229 229 FTA Grantees 30 3 7 21 61 Data as of the January 14, 2015 FRN Notice of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United State Bureau of Indian Affairs 13
FTA funding for Tribal Transit SAFETEA-LU (FY 2006-2012) Created the Tribal Transit Program Administered as a discretionary program at approximately $15 Million per year MAP-21 (FY 2013-2015) Continued and Modified TTP Formula Program: $25 Million per year Discretionary Program: $5 Million per year 14
TTP Formula Apportionment Statutory Formula (100% Federal Share) Tier Percentage of Formula Funding Criteria 1 50% Vehicle Revenue Miles (NTD) 2 25% 3 25% Indian Tribes providing at least 200,000 vehicle revenue miles (NTD) Indian Tribes providing public transportation on reservations where more than 1,000 low income persons reside (2010 Census) 15
TTP Formula Apportionment Eligible Projects Any purpose eligible under Section 5311 Capital, Planning, Operating, Job Access and Reverse Commute, and Program Administration Eligible Federal Share 100% (no match required for formula funds) Funding Availability Funds are available for 3 years after appropriation 16
TTP Formula Apportionment Eligible Projects Planning Eligible Federal Share Funding Availability TTP Formula Funds Capital Operating Job Access & Reverse Commute 100% 3 years (Year of Appropriation + 2) 17
TTP Discretionary Program Approximately $5 million available annually (under MAP-21) December 9, 2014 FTA published Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for FY 2014/2015 TTP discretionary program February 25, 2015 Proposals were due in www.grants.gov Summer 2015 Anticipated project selection announcement 18
TTP Discretionary Funds TTP Discretionary Program Eligible Projects Planning $25,000 cap Capital New Services Replacement Expansion Operating Start-up/New Tribes receiving <$20,000 in FY2013 or FY2014 TTP formula funds No existing transit service Tribes receiving only Tier 3 formula funds Eligible Federal Share 100% 90%* 90%* Funding Availability 3 years (Year of Allocation + 2) * Denotes exception can be made for financial hardship cases. 19
Region 10 TTP Formula Funds $2,000,000 $1,800,000 $1,600,000 $1,400,000 $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 $600,000 Idaho Oregon Washington $400,000 $200,000 $0 2013 2014 2015 (estimate) 20
$4,500,000 $4,000,000 $3,500,000 Region 10 TTP Discretionary Funds $3,000,000 $2,500,000 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 Alaska Idaho Oregon Washington $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 21
What s Next for TTP? GROW AMERICA ACT Proposal requests: 17% increase in funding for the TTP program (from $30 million to $35 million per year) Allocation floor of $20,000 under formula program Program details pending Congressional and Presidential action 22
How to Access FTA TTP Funding 5311(b) Tribal Transit Program Formula Funds National Transit Database (NTD) Data Tribes who submitted NTD data for the 2012 reporting period were considered under all 3 Tiers. Census Data Tribes that did not submit NTD data in time for the reporting period were only considered under Tier 3 (Poverty Tier). 23
How to Access Other FTA Funding Respond to Call for Projects or Request for Proposals FTA Program Funds managed by the States: 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities 5311 Formula Grants for Rural Areas 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities 24
How to Access Other FTA Funding Respond to FTA s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Discretionary program funds. Recent examples include: Section 5309 Bus & Bus Facilities Program (Ladders of Opportunity Initiative) Section 5311(j) Tribal Transit Program Discretionary Program funds for FY 2014 and 2015 25
Results of the TTP Program Between 2006 and 2012 58 Tribes that received funding for 150 projects (including ARRA funds) 36 planning projects 9 new public transportation systems established 59 operating projects (maintain service) 11 capital projects 35 systems able to expand service 26
TTP Technical Assistance Assessments FTA to conduct TTP Technical Assistance (TA) Assessments in 2015 Used as a tool to identify TA needs Based on in put from FTA Regional Offices Headquarters to identify tribes most in need of technical assistance 27
Why? TTP Technical Assistance Assessments FTA to collaborate with tribal transit leaders To assist in identifying opportunities and solutions for improvement When? FTA will offer additional workshops to prepare tribes for TA Assessments April 1-2, 2015 TTP Assessment Workshop in Denver, CO September 21-24, 2015 National Tribal Transportation Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC 28
TTP Technical Assistance Assessments Up to 15 Tribes will receive TA assessments per year starting in 2015 3-year cycle Tribes that do not receive funding from their State DOT will have first priority to receive onsite TA assessment 29
Assessment Areas Legal Technical Grant Administration Financial National Transit Database Asset Management Charter Bus Procurement and Buy America Americans with Disabilities Act Drug-Free Workplace Act Drug & Alcohol Testing Program
Planning Be at the table Best Practices Rural Transportation Planning Organizations Metropolitan Planning Organizations State DOT Planning & Coordination (State Tribal Liaisons) Understand your needs Create a Transit Development Plan (TDP) covering your operating and capital needs for the next 6 years 31
Funding Best Practices Know your available funding options FTA TTP Program Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) State Programs Other non-federal funding / revenue streams 32
Best Practices Project Implementation Know the funding rules Rules for FTA Master Agreement Certifications and Assurances FTA Program Guidance Circular 9040.1G for Sec. 5311 Program Circular 9070.1G for Sec. 5310 Program 33
Best Practices Reporting Milestone Status Report (MPR) Federal Financial Report (FFR) National Transit Database Census Data 34
FTA Grants Management System Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) System TEAM started in 1996 Transitioning to TrAMS in October 2015 Follow TrAMS Progress at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/16260.html 35
Stay connected Ask for help Best Practices FTA Region 10 Tribal Liaison Tribal Transportation Assistance Program State DOT s National Tribal Transportation Conference National Rural Transportation Assistance Program 36
FTA Region 10 Need Help? Kristy McGuill, Region 10 Tribal Liaison E-mail: Kristine.McGuill@dot.gov Phone: 206-220-7963 Amy Changchien, Director of Planning and Program Development E-mail: Amy.Changchien@dot.gov Phone: 206-220-4464 FTA Headquarters Élan Flippin, Tribal Transit Program Manager Email: Elan.Flippin@dot.gov Phone: 202-366-3800 37
TTP Technical Assistance FTA TTP Web page http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html National Rural Technical Assistance Program http://webbuilder.nationalrtap.org/ Northwest Tribal Technical Assistance Program http://www.ewu.edu/nwttap Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Program http://tribalmgmt.uaf.edu/akttap/resources 38
Questions?