[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46224-46225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21922]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Announcement of Project 
Selection

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects under the 
Over-the-road Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program, authorized by Section 
3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). 
The OTRB Accessibility Program makes funds available to private 
operators of over-the-road buses to finance the incremental capital and 
training costs of complying with DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility 
final rule, published in a Federal Register Notice on September 24, 
1998. In the first year of implementation, $2 million was available for 
providers of intercity fixed-route services.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Projects Selected for Fiscal Year 1999 Funding

    A total of $2.8 million was requested by 20 applicants around the 
nation. Project selections were made on a competitive basis, with 11 
projects selected for funding as follows:

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Peter Pan Bus Lines, Springfield, MA........................    $101,000
Adirondack Transit Lines, Kingston, NY......................     150,000
Shortline (Hudson Transit Bus), Mahwa, NJ...................     150,000
Capitol Bus (Capitol Trailways of PA), Harrisburg, PA.......     102,293
Carl Bieber Tourways, Kutztown, PA..........................     130,000
Frank Martz Coach, Wilkes Barre, PA.........................      54,545
Jefferson Lines, Minneapolis, MN............................     107,280
Peoria Charter Coach, Peoria, IL............................      17,250
Greyhound, Dallas, TX.......................................   1,056,707
Burlington Trailways, West Burlington, IA...................      91,000
Northwestern Stage Lines, Spokane, WA.......................      29,925
                                                             -----------
  Total.....................................................   1,990,000
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    The nine projects that were not selected for funding in this first 
year of implementation will be eligible to apply for funding next year. 
In addition to the $2 million that will be available for intercity 
fixed-route providers in FY 2000, an additional $1.7 million will be 
available for providers of other over-the-road bus services, such as 
commuter, charter and tour.
    Eligible project costs may be incurred by awardees prior to final 
grant approval. The incremental capital cost for adding wheelchair lift 
equipment to any new vehicles delivered on or after June 9, 1998, the 
effective date of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, 
is eligible for funding under the over-the-road bus accessibility 
program.
    Applicants selected for funding may be contacted by FTA regional 
offices if any additional information is needed before grants are made. 
The grant applications will be sent to the U.S. Department of Labor 
(DOL) for certification under the labor protection

[[Page 46225]]

requirements of the Federal Transit Act, Section 5333(b). After 
referring applications to affected employees represented by a labor 
organization, DOL will issue a certification to FTA. The terms and 
conditions of the certification will be incorporated in the FTA grant 
agreement under the new guidelines replacing these in 29 CFR Part 215. 
Please see Amendment to Section 5333(b), Guidelines To Carry Out New 
Programs Authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21); Final Rule (64 FR 40990, July 28, 1999).

    Issued on August 19, 1999.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-21922 Filed 8-23-99; 8:45 am]
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