[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 48 (Friday, March 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13210-13220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5810]
[[Page 13209]]
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Part V
Department of Transportation
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Federal Transit Administration
Job Access and Reverse Commute Competitive Grants; Availability of
Funds; Solicitation for Grant Applications; Notice
Federal Register/Vol. 65, No. 48/Friday, March 10, 2000/Notices
[[Page 13210]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Job Access and Reverse Commute Competitive Grants
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds: Solicitation for grant
applications.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces the second round of competitive grants
under the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program, authorized
under section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA-21). This announcement describes the conditions under
which applications will be received for the FY 2000 Job Access and
Reverse Commute competitive grants program and how FTA will determine
which projects it will fund. It includes all of the information needed
to apply for Job Access and Reverse Commute competitive grants. The
announcement also contains information needed to apply for projects
specifically allocated funding by Congress.
This announcement is available on the U.S. Department of
Transportation's FTA website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/. The
website also has commonly asked questions and answers. FTA will
announce final selections on the website and in the Federal Register.
DATES: FTA will make funding commitments for competitively selected Job
Access and Reverse Commute projects through a two-stage process. All
proposals must be submitted to the appropriate FTA regional office (see
Appendix A) by the close of business May 9, 2000. After evaluation and
selection, successful applicants will be required to submit
supplementary documentation demonstrating compliance with all of FTA's
Section 5307, ``Urbanized Area Formula Grants'' requirements. If the
applicant so elects, a proposal and final application documenting
standard FTA Section 5307 requirements may be submitted at the same
time. Applications for congressionally-designated projects may be
submitted as soon as they are completed, but not later than May 9,
2000. A single application containing the proposal and documentation of
Section 5307 requirements is required.
ADDRESSES: Comments on, or questions about, the Job Access and Reverse
Commute program or the application process may be made at the email
address: [[email protected]]. Or they may be mailed or faxed to the
following address: Doug Birnie, Federal Transit Administration, Room
9409, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (FAX (202) 366-
3765).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional
Administrator (see Appendix A) for application-specific information and
issues. For general program information, contact Doug Birnie, Office of
Research Management, TRI-30, (202) 366-0176, email
[email protected]. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/
FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Changes in the Fiscal Year 2000 Solicitation
III. General Program Information
IV. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application
V. Application Submission
VI. Grant Review Process
Appendix A FTA Regional Offices
Appendix B Definitions
Appendix C Sample Project Budget
Appendix D Summary of FTA's Section 5307 Requirements
Appendix E ADA Certification
Appendix F Agency Classifications
I. Background
The Job Access and Reverse Commute Program has two major goals: to
provide transportation services in urban, suburban and rural areas to
assist welfare recipients and other low-income individuals in accessing
employment opportunities, and to increase collaboration among the
regional transportation providers, human service agencies and related
service providers, employers, metropolitan planning organizations
(MPOs), states, and affected communities and individuals.
The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program is intended to
establish a regional approach to job access challenges through the
establishment of an area-wide Job Access and Reverse Commute
Transportation Plan. This plan is to be developed through a coordinated
transportation/human services planning process. Projects derived from
this plan support the implementation of a variety of transportation
services that may be needed to connect welfare recipients and other
low-income individuals to jobs and related employment activities. All
projects funded under the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program
must be derived from such an area-wide plan.
While the projects must be planned in coordination with traditional
transit authorities, Metropolitan Planning Organizations and State
Departments of Transportation, other interested organizations could
take the lead in establishing the collaborative planning process or in
submitting a project application.
The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program will support
projects that are implemented by a wide range of transportation
providers, but projects should be integrated within or coordinated with
the existing transportation system and make efficient and effective use
of existing transportation providers.
FTA is placing special emphasis on consultation with the community
to be served, including welfare recipients and low-income individuals,
individuals with disabilities, migrant workers, Native Americans and
community-based, faith-based and other organizations addressing the
interests of such individuals.
A Job Access project is designed to transport welfare recipients
and low-income individuals in urban, suburban, or rural areas to and
from jobs and activities related to their employment. Job Access
projects implement new transportation services or extend existing
services to fill the gaps that exist in many areas between where
welfare recipients and low-income persons live and employment
opportunities. Job Access and Reverse Commute grants funded under this
program may not be used for planning or coordinating activities and
cannot supplant existing sources of funding. Only new or expanded
services are eligible for funding.
Funding for Job Access and Reverse Commute grants is authorized at
$150 million annually. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA-21) provided guaranteed funding starting at $50 million in
fiscal year (FY) 1999, increasing by $25 million a year, and reaching
the full authorized $150 million in FY 2003. Funding above the
guaranteed level depends on congressional appropriations. No more than
$10 million annually can be used for grants designated as Reverse
Commute projects.
Program funding is divided in the following manner: sixty percent
(60%) for areas with populations 200,000 and above, twenty percent
(20%) for areas between 50,000-200,000 population, and twenty percent
(20%) for areas below 50,000 population.
Congress has appropriated $75 million for the Job Access and
Reverse Commute grants in FY 2000. Of this amount, Congress has
allocated $49.57 million for specific states and localities.
[[Page 13211]]
The remaining $25.4 million plus $4.2 million in unobligated FY 1999
funding is available for competitive award. The following chart
provides information on the amounts available for competitive projects
in each funding category, as well as the amounts reserved for specific
areas by each funding category.
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Approximate amounts for projects in areas
with population--(funding in millions)
---------------------------------------------
Totals for
>200,000 50- >50,000 all areas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------200,000-------------------------
FY 2000 Funds Available........................................... $45.0 $15.0 $15.0 $75.0
Amounts Reserved for Specific Projects............................ 30.2 9.0 10.4 49.6
FY 2000 Funds Available for Competitive Award................. 14.8 6.0 4.6 25.4
FY 1999 Funds Not Allocated....................................... 1.0 2.8 .4 4.2
---------------------------------------------
Total Funds Available for Competitive Award................... 15.8 8.8 5.0 29.6
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A 50 percent non-DOT match is required. Other Federal funds that
are eligible to be used for transportation costs can be used as part of
the match. Applicants should submit projects that can be started within
six months, but no later than within one year.
II. Changes in the Fiscal Year 2000 Solicitation
A. Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
In FY 1999, it was not clear to some what the difference was
between the Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Plan and the
Regional Transportation Plan developed by Metropolitan Planning
Organizations in urbanized areas as required by the FHWA/FTA Joint
Planning regulations. The plans required for the Job Access and Reverse
Commute program are short-term, operational service plans that are
meant to address gaps in current transit service that impede welfare
recipients and low-income persons from reaching jobs and employment
support services. The Regional Transportation Plan is a long-range plan
that identifies area transportation needs in light of projected growth
patterns and broadly charts major capital investments for
transportation system development to meet these projected needs. To
avoid confusion, we have renamed job access plans as Area-Wide Job
Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plans.
B. Persons With Disabilities
Because of high employment experienced by persons with disabilities
and their more dispersed residential patterns, the Job Access and
Reverse Commute Plans are now required to identify projects which
address the mobility needs of this population in reaching employment
sites and support activities. Applicants also must submit with their
proposals a certification that the requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) will be met. (See Appendix E)
C. Multi-Year Commitments
In FY 1999, a number of applicants sought multi-year commitments
from FTA. Because of limited funding available, recipients of FY 1999
Job Access and Reverse Commute funding seeking second year funding must
compete with other applicants. They will be evaluated based on
demonstrated progress in meeting the goals of their project, as well as
on the general evaluation criteria. A full application must be
submitted, including the transmittal memo, the proposal narrative and
plan and any relevant updates, and documentation of demonstrated
progress towards meeting project goals.
D. One-Step Application Process
In fiscal year 1999, FTA required applications to be submitted in
two stages: The project proposal, including the Job Access and Reverse
Transportation Plan, to be submitted first, and for applications
approved for funding, the supplementary documentation necessary to meet
the requirements of FTA's Section 5307 program. Some applicants wished
to have a one-step instead of a two-step application process. This
year, applicants may submit the entire application simultaneously,
including project proposal and the supplementary documentation, if they
choose to. (See Sections II and III) Those wishing to submit a single
application should work closely with the appropriate FTA regional
office. (See Appendix A for Regional Contacts)
E. Projects for Congressionally-Designated Areas
Applicants for projects supporting the development of local
transportation services and related promotional activities in
congressionally-selected areas must submit applications responding to
the same program selection criteria as applications for competitive
selection. Such applications shall demonstrate conformity with the
requirements of the Job Access and Reverse Commute program and will
provide information to demonstrate sound project management.
III. General Program Information
A. Authority
Section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(TEA-21).
B. Background
While two-thirds of all new jobs are in the suburbs, three-quarters
of welfare recipients live in rural areas or in central cities. In
metropolitan areas with extensive transit systems, studies have shown
that less than half of the jobs are accessible by transit. Even fewer
jobs are accessible by transit in areas with limited transit systems.
Many entry-level workers have difficulty reaching jobs during evening
or weekend shifts when transit services are frequently diminished or
non-existent. Work trips can also be complex, involving several
destinations including childcare providers. The problems can be more
challenging in rural areas where approximately 40 percent of rural
counties lack public transit systems and commuting distances generally
are longer than in urban areas.
Auto ownership among welfare recipients and low-income persons is
low. Most welfare recipients do not own cars and nearly 40 percent of
workers with annual incomes below $10,000 do not commute by car. In
1991, the median price of a new car was equivalent to 25 weeks of
salary for the average worker and considerably more for the low-income
worker.
Transportation is clearly a key barrier to those moving from
welfare to work. Providing a variety of new or expanded transportation
options for low-income workers, especially those who are receiving or
who have recently received welfare benefits, will increase the
[[Page 13212]]
likelihood that those workers will get and retain jobs.
In FY 1999, $75 million was appropriated and FTA awarded
approximately $71 million, $67.5 million for job access projects and
$3.4 million for reverse commute projects. Successful applicants in the
first round were announced on May 13, 1999 and included a variety of
services ranging from extended bus routes and specialized van services
reaching new employment sites to guaranteed ride home programs and late
night and weekend service providing additional hours of service.
Project descriptions can be found on the FTA website at
(www.fta.dot.gov/wtw). The remaining uncommitted funds are added to the
FY 2000 appropriation.
C. Scope
Improving mobility and advancing economic development are key
strategic goals of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Job Access
funds help improve mobility and economic opportunity for welfare
recipients and other low-income people through implementing new or
expanded transportation activities. Reverse Commute funds help improve
mobility to suburban employment opportunities for the general public,
as well as for welfare recipients and low-income people.
D. Eligible Applicants
Consistent with Section 3037 (b)(4)(A) & (B), local agencies and
authorities, non-profit organizations and designated recipients under
other FTA programs (usually a state entity or a regional transit
authority) are eligible applicants for Job Access and Reverse Commute
grant program funds. Local agencies and authorities include states,
local governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), public
transit agencies and tribal governments.
In urbanized areas with 200,000 population or more, MPOs select the
applicant(s). FTA urges MPOs to designate a single recipient to submit
a consolidated application in urbanized areas with such populations.
In small urbanized areas under 200,000 population and in non-
urbanized, rural areas, states select the applicant. For areas between
50,000-200,000 population, applications forwarded to the state for
selection must be endorsed by the area MPO as projects that the MPO
would be willing to program in the Transportation Improvement Program
if the projects were selected for funding States are urged to serve as
the designated recipient for grants to small urbanized and non-
urbanized areas. The selected grant recipient can sub-allocate funds to
other project participants.
Tribal governments must go through the state selection process but,
once selected, can choose to be sub-recipients of the state or, as
sovereign governments, can apply directly to FTA. States are encouraged
to work closely and expeditiously with tribal applicants. FTA regional
offices are available to facilitate this process.
E. Eligible Projects
1. In General
Job Access or Reverse Commute projects derived from an Area-Wide
Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan are eligible. Please
note that grants awarded under the Job Access and Reverse Commute
program may not be used for planning or coordinating activities.
(Section 3037(e)) However, metropolitan and statewide planning funds
made available under the FTA Section 5303 and 5313(b) programs and
FHWA/FTA Joint Planning, Section 49 CFR part 613, Section 23 CFR part
420, and state planning and research funds (SPR) can be used to fund
welfare to work transportation planning activities at a 100 percent
Federal share. Other funds, including the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the
Department of Labor's Welfare-to-Work (WtW) administrative funds, can
also be used for transportation planning activities consistent with the
allowable uses of those resources. Lead applicants submitting
consolidated applications on behalf of a number of subrecipients may
apply for administrative costs up to ten percent of the grant request.
2. Job Access Project
A Job Access project is directed at implementing new or expanded
transportation services. These services are targeted at filling
transportation gaps and designed to transport welfare recipients and
low-income individuals to and from jobs and other employment-related
support services such as childcare and job readiness, training and
retention services. The Job Access Grant Program funds the capital and
operating costs of new or expanded transportation services.
Localities have wide flexibility in selecting service strategies
that are appropriate for their areas, including, but not limited to:
(a) Adding late night and weekend service;
(b) Providing a guaranteed ride home service;
(c) Initiating shuttle service;
(d) Extending fixed route mass transit service;
(e) Providing demand responsive van service;
(f) Sponsoring ridesharing and carpooling activities; and
(g) Encouraging bicycling.
To improve customer service and operating efficiency, localities
are encouraged to:
(a) Establish regional mobility managers or transportation
brokerage activities;
(b) Apply Geographic Information System (GIS) tools;
(c) Implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including
customer trip information technologies;
(d) Integrate automated regional public transit and human service
transportation, including health services, information, scheduling and
dispatch functions; and
(e) Deploy vehicle position monitoring systems.
Job Access and Reverse Commute grants also may be used for
promoting the use of:
(a) Transit by workers with non-traditional work schedules,
(b) The purchase of transit vouchers by appropriate agencies for
welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals;
(c) The development of employer-provided transportation such as
shuttles, ridesharing, carpooling; or
(d) The use of transit pass programs and benefits under Section 132
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Marketing and advertising are examples of promotional activities
that could be undertaken to increase awareness of these transportation
options and their benefit to welfare recipients and low-income
individuals. Other locality-specific actions, strategies and linkages
that further the program goals also may be eligible.
While the marketing and promotion of transit pass programs are
eligible expenses under the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, the
funding of individual transit passes is not an eligible expense.
Additionally, the construction of child care centers and other
employment support facilities at transit hubs are not eligible for Job
Access grants. Transit-oriented construction activities are eligible
under FTA's Section 5307, 5309 and 5311 Formula Grant programs. Transit
passes are eligible expenses under Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) and Welfare-to-Work (WtW) programs.
Programs for private automobile ownership and repair are not
legally eligible under this grant funding
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program. However, programs supporting carpooling and other forms of
mass transportation and shared-ride use, such as jitneys or special
paratransit service, are eligible. In cases where vehicle acquisition
is part of the program, vehicles must remain under the continuing
control of the agency receiving the grant.
3. Reverse Commute Project
A Reverse Commute project facilitates the provision of new or
expanded public mass transportation services for the general public
from urban areas, suburban and rural areas to suburban work places.
Reverse Commute services include, but are not limited to:
(a) Bus, train, car and van pooling services, van routes, and
(b) The purchase or lease by a nonprofit organization or public
agency of a van or bus dedicated to shuttling employees from their
residences and transit transfer points to a suburban work place and
back again.
F. Cost Sharing
The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program is intended to
fill gaps in existing services and leverage other Federal, state and
local transportation-related funding to address the unmet needs of
individuals moving from welfare to work and other low-income
populations. Neither funds awarded under this grant program, nor funds
used to match the grants, can be used to replace any existing source of
funds.
The maximum DOT share of a grant under the Job Access and Reverse
Commute program may not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.
The non-DOT share shall be provided in cash. If funds are matched from
other Federal programs, the funds must be applied directly to project
expenses. Revenues from service agreements are an eligible match, but
revenues from individual fares cannot be used as a match.
Transportation-eligible funding from Federal programs other than
the Department of Transportation may be used to match DOT funds. These
funds include but are not limited to:
a. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
b. Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and Social Services Block
Grants (SSBG) administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services;
c. Welfare-to-Work (WtW) formula and competitive grants
administered by the U.S. Department of Labor; and
d. Community Development Block grants (CDBG) and HOPE VI grants
administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The prohibitions on the use of WtW funds for matching requirements
under section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act do not apply
to Federal or state funds that provide transportation services. TANF
and WtW grants, when used as a match, may be expended only for new or
expanded transportation services and cannot be used for construction or
to subsidize current transit operating expenses. Such funds also must
supplement rather than supplant other state expenditures on
transportation.
Under the TANF Final Rule, investment in transportation services
for families who are employed, including the purchase of transit
vouchers, and investments used as match for the Job Access and Reverse
Commute program, do not constitute ``assistance'' and, therefore, do
not trigger the 60-month lifetime limit on receipt of Federal benefits
nor the reporting requirements of families receiving ``assistance.''
The Secretaries of Transportation, Labor, and Health and Human Services
released revised joint guidance on the use of WtW and TANF funds on
December 23, 1998, which is currently being updated to reflect the
changes in the final TANF rule. Guidance on TANF funds, including
specific examples of eligible transportation investments, is available
on the web at [http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofa/funds2.htm].
(``Child Support Performance and Incentives Act of 1998,'' Pub.L. 105-
200, Sec. 403, ``Limitations on Use of TANF Funds for Matching Under
Certain Federal Transportation Programs.'').
More extensive guidance on the use of TANF and WtW funds for
transportation can be found on the FTA web site---- http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw.
G. Planning
1. Coordinated Transportation/Human Services Planning Process
Proposed Job Access and Reverse Commute projects must be derived
from an Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
(see below) which results from a coordinated public transit and human
services transportation planning process. Any interested stakeholder
group in the area may initiate the planning process. FTA encourages
MPOs to serve as the regional forum in urbanized areas.
The planning process must include transportation planning officials
from state and metropolitan transportation planning organizations;
representatives from local transit agencies and other existing human
service, private, non-profit transportation operators; the agencies
administering TANF and WtW formula and competitive grants, and the
community to be served. Stakeholders within the community to be served
include welfare recipients and low-income residents as well as,
community and faith-based organizations, disability groups, farm and
migrant worker organizations and other groups representing the
interests of low-income persons.
The planning process also should include other stakeholders
organized transit labor representatives; employment, human service, and
child care support service providers; a variety of local and state
workforce development organizations including One-Stop Career Center;
public and assisted housing providers and community development
agencies; economic development agencies; employers and employer groups
(such as transportation management organizations and Chambers of
Commerce); elected representatives including tribal officials, and
state officials including mayors, county supervisors, state
legislators, governors and other state and local officials or their
designates, and other interested public citizens.
2. Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
The purpose of collaboration is to develop a comprehensive area-
wide approach to providing transportation services to welfare
recipients and low-income persons regardless of jurisdictional
boundaries. In general, the Job Access and Reverse Commute program
should be viewed as a catalyst to provide long-term mobility and access
to jobs for welfare recipients and low-income individuals. Any project
proposed for funding should be identified in the Area-Wide Job Access
Transportation Plan resulting from the above process. The Plan is not
meant to supersede, but to build upon existing area welfare-to-work
transportation planning activities. The Area Wide Job Access and
Reverse Commute Transportation Plan must:
a. Identify the geographic distributions of welfare recipients and
low-income people in the region;
b. Identify the geographic distributions of employment centers and
employment-related activities in the region;
c. Identify existing public, private, non-profit and human service
transportation services in the region;
d. Identify transportation gaps between the geographic
distributions of
[[Page 13214]]
people, as specified in section ``a,'' and employment, as specified in
section ``b,'' which are not currently served by the transportation
services, as specified in section ``c,''
e. Identify projects to address the gaps identified in section
``d.'' Each project identification must include:
(1) the goals and objectives of the project
(2) the cost of the project;
(3) An explanation of how the project will maximize use of existing
transportation service providers and what mechanisms will be used to
integrate or coordinate the project services with the existing
transportation network; and
(4) Identification of any employer-provided or employer-assisted
transportation service strategies incorporated in the project.
Prioritize the project(s) identified in section ``e'' for funding
and implementation. This is a requirement.
The Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
should build on and incorporate existing welfare to work transportation
planning activities.
In addition, since low-income persons with disabilities tend to be
more disbursed throughout the community than other low-income groups
that are geographically more concentrated, the Plan should include
specific identification of projects that will address the employment-
related needs of this population.
3. The Role of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
MPOs are comprised of elected officials representing local
governments and transportation service providers within the
metropolitan area. They are responsible for adopting transportation
plans and improvement programs to address a region's unique
transportation needs and working with states to include these
priorities in statewide plans.
In regions with populations of more than 200,000, MPOs are
responsible for selecting applicants to be considered for Federal Job
Access and Reverse Commute grants. In regions with populations between
50,000 and 200,000, MPOs will recommend projects to the state, which
will select the applicants to be considered for Federal Job Access and
Reverse Commute grants.
This means that MPOs are responsible for the following:
(a) Determining that Job Access and Reverse Commute projects are
consistent with the regional long-range transportation plan.
(b) Ensuring that the submitted application contains prioritized
projects based on local need. Local priorities can be ascertained
through the collaborative human services/transportation planning
process and through consultation with the affected stakeholders.
(c) Endorsing and subsequently programming Job Access and Reverse
Commute projects into the area Transportation Improvement Program in
urbanized areas of over 50,000 population.
(d) Conducting the locally-developed public participation process
as required by Joint FHWA/FTA Planning Rule (23 CFR part 450, 49 CFR
part 613).
In all regions with MPOs, individual Job Access and Reverse Commute
projects must be adopted into the MPO's Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) prior to receiving a grant. Because this entails a formal
review and project approval by the MPO Policy Board, FTA strongly urges
the partners developing the Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute
Transportation Plan to communicate with the MPO at an early stage.
Further, as financial sustainability of a project is one of the
evaluation criteria, coordination with the agencies participating in
the MPO forum could be a critical factor in ensuring long-term support
for Job Access and Reverse Commute activities.
4. Statewide Transportation Planning Requirements
In all regions with populations of less than 200,000, the state is
responsible for selecting applicants, based on the recommendation of
the MPO in areas between 50,000-200,000 population. In addition, Job
Access and Reverse Commute projects selected for funding must be
endorsed by the state and incorporated into the statewide
transportation improvement program (STIP). Because this requires state
approval, FTA strongly urges the partners to communicate with state
officials, including the state DOT, at an early stage. In selecting
projects in rural areas, states should give priority to projects
providing service to places that are not currently served or are
underserved by public transit systems. States must prioritize the
projects for funding based on their analysis of local needs and service
effectiveness, as well as the collaboration achieved among
stakeholders. Given the sovereign nature of tribal governments, tribal
projects need not be included in the state's prioritization of
projects, though they must be included in the State Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP).
5. Improved Transportation Planning
The statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes
mandated by TEA-21 promote ongoing, cooperative, and active involvement
of public transportation providers; the public; and state, metropolitan
and local government agencies in the development of state-wide and
metropolitan transportation plans and improvement programs. DOT expects
that the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program will be a
catalyst for broadening the transportation planning process to better
integrate employment and social equity considerations.
J. General Grant Requirements
In addition to the project proposal based on the program-specific
requirements outlined in this notice, the applicant will be required to
submit appropriate certifications, assurances, and other documentation
necessary to meet the requirements of FTA's Urbanized Area Formula
Grant Program (Section 5307 program under Title 49, United States
Code). These include planning, environmental, school bus, charter,
procurement, labor protections and civil rights requirements, including
the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, Environmental Justice
and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and drug and alcohol testing
requirements.
Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with affected transit labor
unions and to gather all information required by the U.S. Department of
Labor for labor certification as soon as possible to avoid delay in the
certification process upon grant selection. (See Appendix F for a
description of required information). Applicants must have the
financial, legal, and technical capacity to apply for and administer
projects. Copies of the Section 5307 program guidance (circular FTA
9030.1B ``Urbanized Area Formula Program: Grant Application
Instructions,'' Oct. 10, 1996) can be obtained from any FTA Regional
Office or electronically through the FTA website. (See Appendix D for
summary list.)
K. Performance Monitoring
FTA requires grant recipients to monitor the performance of their
Job Access and Reverse Commute services and to cooperate with the FTA
and General Accounting Office (GAO) national evaluations mandated by
law. Performance measures on: (1) Increasing access between welfare
recipients and low-income populations and employment sites; and (2) job
access/reverse
[[Page 13215]]
commute service effectiveness and efficiency will be sought.
The required performance measures for FY 1999 grants may be found on
FTA's web site (www.fta.dot.gov/wtw). Similar measures will be required
for FY 2000 grantees. Performance monitoring primarily will take place
through FTA standard project quarterly progress reports. Quarterly
reports and other information must be reported in accordance with FTA's
standard reporting requirements which are: (1) For projects in non-
urbanized areas, reporting requirements for the 5311 Program (FTA C
9040.1E, page VI-6) annual status reports, annual financial status
reports, and annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) reports;
(2) for projects in urbanized areas, reporting requirements for the
5307 Program, Transit Database Reporting, annual audits and triennial
review.
IV. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application
FTA is conducting a national solicitation for applications under
the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. Grant awards will be made
on a competitive basis. FTA encourages both traditional transportation
recipients and a variety of new program entrants non-traditional
grantees in urban, suburban, and rural areas to participate in the
development of projects. To assist new program applicants in
particular, a two-step application process is available. Applicants
must submit a proposal that describes the proposed project for which
funding is sought and responds to the requirements outlined in this
Notice. If selected, the applicant must then document compliance with
the standard FTA requirements listed in Appendix D as well as complete
the securement of the financial match for the grant. Applicants may
elect to submit a single application containing both the proposal and
documentation of FTA standard requirements. Contact the appropriate FTA
regional office for guidance on meeting standard FTA program
requirements.
A. Grant Funding Amounts
Suggested grant sizes are identified below. (Applicants may request
smaller amounts from FTA.)
1. For urbanized areas with populations of over one million, FTA
expects to make grants of no more than $1 million. (Places with
populations of above 5 million may request funding above $1 million.)
2. For urbanized areas with populations greater than 200,000 and
less than one million, FTA expects to make grants of no more than
$500,000.
3. For urbanized areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000,
FTA expects to make grants of no more than $200,000. States should not
submit applications that collectively exceed $1 million for this
category.
4. For rural areas (areas with populations of less than 50,000),
individual area grant applications generally should not exceed
$150,000. Collective grant applications by states for rural areas
should not exceed $1 million. Tribal applications may be considered
separately from the state funding limitation.
B. Project Scope
Proposed projects must be drawn from an Area-Wide Job Access and
Reverse Commute Transportation Plan and focus on new or expanded
transportation services. Applicants should focus on projects that can
be started within six months, but no later than within one year of
grant award.
V. Application Development and Submission
To promote collaboration and reduce administrative paperwork, FTA
strongly encourages the submission of a consolidated application by a
single entity in urbanized areas and the submission of a consolidated
application by the state for rural areas. In both cases, funds may be
passed on to sub-recipients. Tribal governments submitting projects
that are selected by the state may choose to allow the state to include
their project(s) in the state's application or, as sovereign
governments, may apply directly to FTA. Since existing FTA grantees may
have already met or have on file information that will satisfy many of
the FTA requirements that apply to this program, FTA encourages states
and local transit agencies to serve as the single entity by submitting
applications on behalf of other entities.
Applicants must submit an original and two paper copies of the
application proposal to the appropriate FTA regional office.
Additionally, the application proposal is to be submitted via e-mail to
the FTA at: ([email protected]). If an applicant is unable to
submit the application electronically via e-mail, the proposal should
be submitted on a 3.5 formatted disk for use on a personal computer
(PC). Documents should be submitted in Word or Rich Text Format (RTF).
Tables should be submitted in an Excel, or Tab Delimited Format.
Submissions must be postmarked by, as well as electronically sent,
where feasible, to FTA by May 9, 2000.
Applicants with access to TEAM, FTA's electronic grant making and
management system, should enter standard grant information into TEAM
once projects have been selected. For those applicants with access to
TEAM that choose the one-step application process and submit a single
comprehensive application (application proposal and standard section
5307 requirements), all standard grant requirement information also
should be entered into TEAM.
The application proposal should provide detailed information on
each project for which FY 2000 funds are being requested. The
application should include the following elements:
A. Transmittal Memo
Include the following information:
1. The Name of Applicant(s) and the Type of Agency (See Appendix G
for list of agency types).
2. A List of Sub Recipients and the Types of Agencies (See Appendix
G).
3. Name, Address and Telephone Number of a Person to be Contacted
for Additional Information.
4. Name, Title, and Complete Address of Person to be Notified if
Grant is Awarded.
5. Area(s) to be Served: Cities, Counties, Tribal Lands and States.
6. Project Summary. Two paragraphs to be used for press purposes
should the application be selected for funding. The summary should
contain: a brief description and list of the planning partners; a brief
overview of the transportation challenges in the area; a brief
description of the services to be funded; the intended project
beneficiaries and the identification of any employment support services
(e.g., training, child care, or housing) that will be coordinated with
the proposed transportation services.
7. A Brief Description of the Applicant's Organizational Capability
to Carry Out the Project.
8. Identification of the Area as a Designated Empowerment Zone,
Enterprise Community, or Champion Community, if applicable.
9. Total Federal Project Funding Requested:
Major Urbanized Area (Over 200,000 population)
Job Access Amount: $
Reverse Commute Amount: $
Medium Urbanized Area (50,000 to 200,000 Population)
Job Access Amount: $
Reverse Commute Amount: $
Non-urbanized Area (Rural and Small Urban--less than 50,000 Population)
[[Page 13216]]
Job Access Amount: $
Reverse Commute Amount: $
10. Total Funds Requested
Job Access Amount: $
Reverse Commute Amount: $
Total Requested: $
11. Source(s) and Dollar Amount of Matching Funds.
B. Proposal Narrative
Provide the information identified below to support your
application for new or expanded services.
1. Document the coordinated human services and transportation
planning process. This should include:
a. A brief description (no more than three pages--double spaced) of
the collaborative transportation/human services process used in
developing the Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation
Plan, including the coordination and consultation process with the
organizations that have been specified by law: the community to be
served, states and MPOs, existing transportation providers and transit
agencies, agencies administering the TANF and WtW funds.
b. A list of the above organizations and other participants in the
Job Access and Reverse Commute planning process.
c. A description of the results of the local Job Access and Reverse
Commute Plan consultation process with the community to be served,
including welfare recipients and low-income individuals, individuals
with disabilities, migrant workers, Native Americans and community-
based, faith-based and other organizations addressing the interests of
such individuals.
d. Letters of endorsement or objections from planning partners.
e. Applicant responses to any letters of objections.
2. Document the unmet transportation needs on a region-wide basis
from the Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Plan and provide
project specific information on how the proposed services meet these
needs. Where possible, provide maps depicting the information listed
below (2a, 2b). Please provide the following information:
a. Describe the unmet need for additional transportation services
to transport those leaving welfare and low-income individuals to jobs,
training and other employment services on an area-wide and project-
specific basis. This should include:
A definition of the proposed project service areas, the
communities to be served and the geographic area covered by the area-
wide job access and reverse commute plan.
The number of welfare recipients and low-income persons
and the percentage of the population that they represent within the
proposed project service area and the percentage of the population that
they represent within the geographic and project/s service area.
A description of major employment opportunities.
A description of the existing transportation network,
including human services, nonprofit, private and public transportation
providers.
A description of transportation gaps in existing services
for welfare recipients and low-income populations seeking to reach jobs
and employment support services.
For reverse commute projects, information on the need for
additional transportation services
b. MPOs and states should list projects in priority order for
funding implementation and describe how each proposed project(s) will
meet the unmet needs described above. Tribal projects do not have to be
prioritized because they represent the projects of an independent
sovereign government, not subject to state funding priorities. Include
or address the following:
Describe the applicant's organizational capacity to
implement the project.
Specify project goals and objectives.
Provide indicators that will be used to monitor project
performance and to make subsequent adjustments in project
implementation.
Describe the project.
Provide operation-specific data (e.g. miles/hours of
service, new routes, route extensions, reduced travel time for target
population where appropriate, etc.).
Estimate capital and operating project costs Estimate
annualized cost per rider of proposed project. For job access projects,
estimate low-income and welfare recipient ridership and total annual
ridership.
For reverse commute projects, estimate annual ridership.
Percentage of target population to be served.
Describe how the project will address the mobility needs
of persons with disabilities and provide certification that the ADA
requirements will be met. (Certification language--see Appendix E).
Identify employment potential in the proposed project's
service area, including the new jobs and/or job and employment support
sites reached.
Specify how existing service providers will be used to
provide proposed services.
Describe mechanisms to coordinate or integrate new
transportation services within existing needs of target populations.
For applicants who already have received Job Access and
Reverse Commute grants in FY 1999, provide a report depicting progress
toward meeting project goals/objectives and performance information on
the items described above.
3. Document financial commitments, including prospects for
sustainability.
Document sources, or expected sources, of matching funds.
Provide letters of financial commitment, or intent to
commit, that document local match.
Identify how TANF, WtW, other Federal, state or local
financial resources will be leveraged.
Identify the financial commitment of existing
transportation providers.
Identify employer-provided resources.
Identify long-term financing that may be proposed or
available to support continuation of the proposed project or other
aspects of the regional plan, including continued transit, human
service and employer provided financial resources.
4. For application for continuation of services previously funded
in FY 1999, applicants must provide information on financial
commitments plus information drawn from their progress reports that
demonstrates achievements in meeting project objectives, including the
number of:
New employment sites reached.
New employers reached.
New jobs reached.
New employment support facilities reached.
New residential areas served with target populations.
Ridership on new services, including, if available, number
of welfare recipients and low-income persons served, [these figures may
be generated by periodic surveys].
Cost per rider.
Additional vehicle hours of services provided.
Other progress and results toward meeting project goals.
C. Project Budget
Provide a project budget for each project. (see Appendix C).
VI. Grant Review Process
Applications for competitive funding are to be submitted to the
appropriate FTA Regional Office by the close of business TBD. FTA will
screen all applications to determine whether all required eligibility
elements, as
[[Page 13217]]
described in the following checklist, are present. FTA will select
projects based on what is most advantageous to the government,
considering, in addition to the award criteria, the time frame in which
projects can be implemented, Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community
status, use of innovative approaches, such as transportation mobility
management/brokerage institutional arrangements and the application of
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Intelligent Transportation
Systems (ITS ) technologies, and geographic distribution of project
funding.
A. Project Eligibility Checklist--include the following:
This checklist is provided for the applicant to use to ensure that
the required documentation has been provided in the application.
Failure to provide the documentation listed below will make an
applicant's proposal non-responsive and it will not be evaluated
further.
(1) A description of the applicant's organizational capacity to
implement the proposed project(s).
(2) A brief description and documentation of a coordinated
transportation/human services planning process.
(3) An Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation
Plan. The plan must prioritize and rank projects for funding. Tribal
projects are exempted for prioritization.
(4) A brief description of each project proposed.
(5) Documentation of matching funds.
(6) Documentation of approval by affected transit authorities.
(7) For urbanized areas with populations over 200,000,
documentation of the MPO selection and intention to amend the
Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) if the project is selected for
funding.
(8) For urbanized areas with populations between 50,000 and
200,000, documentation of the state selection and MPO intention to
amend the TIP if project is selected for funding.
(9) For areas with populations below 50,000, documentation of the
state selection and intention to amend the state-wide transportation
improvement plan (STIP) if project is selected for funding.
(10) Description of the results of the consultation process with
the community to be served.
B. Award Criteria for Competitive Grants:
Once eligibility is established, the merit of each application will
be evaluated based on the following factors. (The number of points in
parentheses indicates the maximum level of points for a given factor.)
1. A coordinated human services/transportation planning process.
(25 points). Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant
demonstrates a collaborative planning process and the extent to which
the organizations listed below demonstrate support for the projects.
The entities include the following:
Existing transportation service providers;
The state or local agencies that administer the state
program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act
(TANF and WtW grant programs);
Public housing agencies (including Indian tribes and their
tribally designated housing entities as defined by the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development), especially those applying for Welfare
to Work Housing Vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Other human service and employment service agencies and
providers;
The community to be served, including welfare recipients
and low-income residents, community-based and faith-based
organizations, disability groups, farm and migrant organizations,
tribal associations and other organizations representing the interests
of low-income persons;
Employers and their organizations; and
Other area stakeholders.
An Area-Wide Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
addressing the transportation needs of welfare recipients and low-
income individuals (60 pts.)
a. Demonstrated need for additional transportation services (30
Points)
Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates:
For a job access project, the relative need for additional
services in the area to be served to transport welfare recipients and
eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs, training and other
employment support services; and
For a reverse commute project, the need for additional
services to transport individuals to suburban employment opportunities.
b.
b. Extent to which proposed services will meet the need for
services (30 Points)--Evaluated based on the extent to which:
The proposed service will meet needs, including those
associated with accessing jobs and employment-related services such as
training and child care.
The applicant demonstrates the maximum use of existing
transportation service providers and how services will be coordinated
with existing the transportation network.
3. Financial commitments (15 points)
Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant identifies:
Long-term financing strategies to support proposed
services.
Commitment of financial match by source, e.g.
--human service agencies and providers.
--employers.
--existing transportation providers.
C. Notification for Competitive Selections
FTA will notify applicants of selection decisions. Those selected
must then submit appropriate certifications, assurances, and other
documentation necessary to meet the applicable FTA Section 5307
Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program requirements and be included in
the TIP or STIP as appropriate, if these requirements had not been met.
Technical assistance regarding these requirements is available in each
FTA regional office.
FTA is committed to obligating FY 2000 Job Access and Reverse
Commute funding expeditiously. Therefore, FTA urges applicants to
develop documentation in accordance with the Section 5307 program
guidance as soon as possible. This allows the information necessary for
grant approval to be readily available for submission to FTA when
projects are selected for funding. FTA will approve final applications
as soon as they are complete.
Issued on: March 3, 2000.
Nuria I. Fernandez,
Acting Administrator.
Appendix A: (FTA) Regional Offices
Region I--Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
Vermont and Maine
Richard H. Doyle, FTA--Regional Administrator, Kendall Square,
55 Broadway, Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093,
(617) 494-2055
Region II--New York, New Jersey, Virgin Islands,
Letitia Thompson, FTA--Regional Administrator, One Bowling
Green, Room 429, New York, NY 10004-1415, (212) 668-2170
Region III--Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia,
Delaware, Washington D.C.
Sheldon Kinbar, FTA--Regional Administrator, 1760 Market Street,
Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124, (215) 656-7100
[[Page 13218]]
Region IV--Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Puerto Rico
Susan Schruth, FTA--Regional Administrator, 61 Forsyth Street,
S.W., Suite 17T50, Atlanta, GA 30303-8917, (404) 562-3500
Region V--Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan
Joel Ettinger, FTA--Regional Administrator, 200 West Adams
Street, Suite 2410, Chicago, IL 60606-5232, (312) 353-2789
Region VI--Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Lee Waddleton, FTA--Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street,
Room 8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102-9003, (817) 978-0550
Region VII--Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri
Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA--Regional Administrator, 901 Locust Street,
Suite 404, Kansas City, M0 64106, (816) 329-3920
Region VIII--Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming,
Utah
Louis Mraz, FTA--Regional Administrator, Columbine Place, Suite
650, 216 Sixteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202-5120, (303) 844-3242
Region IX--California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, American Samoa,
Guam
Leslie Rogers, FTA--Regional Administrator, 201 Mission Street,
Suite 2210, San Francisco, CA 94105-1839, (415) 744-3133
Region X--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska
Helen Knoll, FTA--Regional Administrator, Jackson Federal
Building, Suite 3142, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1002,
(206) 220-7954.
Appendix B: Definitions
1. Welfare Recipient--An individual who receives or received aid
or assistance under a state program funded under Part A of Title IV
of the Social Security Act (whether in effect before or after the
effective date of the amendments made by Title I of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
(Public Law 104-193); (110 Stat. 2110)) at any time during the
three-year period before the date on which the applicant applies for
a grant.
2. Eligible Low-Income Individual--An individual whose family
income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line (as that term
is defined in Section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant
Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) including any revisions required by that
section for a family of the size involved, as calculated by HHS. The
1999 guidelines were published in the March 18, 1999, (Volume 64,
Number 52) Federal Register, page 13428-13430, and are available on
the web at [http://www.aoa.gov/network/99hhspov.html].
3. Existing Transportation Service Providers--Public
transportation providers including public, private and non-profit
fixed route and paratransit operators, and governmental agencies and
nonprofit organizations that receive assistance from Federal, state,
or local sources for non-emergency transportation services.
4. Human Services Providers--Agencies and organizations involved
in helping welfare recipients and low-income populations to make the
transition to work and providing supportive employment services.
These agencies and organizations include state and local workforce
development organizations, agencies administering TANF and WtW
formula and competitive funds, public and assisted housing providers
and community development agencies, and, where appropriate, faith-
based and community-based organizations providing employment support
services.
5. Qualified Entity--(A) With respect to any proposed eligible
project in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000,
the applicant(s) selected by the appropriate Metropolitan Planning
Organization that meets the program eligibility requirements,
including planning and coordination requirements, from among local
governmental authorities and agencies and nonprofit organizations
and; (B) With respect to any proposed eligible project in an
urbanized area with a population of greater than 50,000 and less
than 200,000, or an area other than an urbanized area, the
applicant(s) selected by the chief executive officer of the state in
which the area is located that meets the program eligibility
requirements, including the planning and coordination requirements,
from among local governmental authorities and nonprofit
organizations.
6. Transit Capital and Operating Assistance Projects--Projects
to finance acquisition, construction, improvement, and operating
costs of facilities, equipment and associated capital maintenance
items used in mass transportation service, including crime
prevention and security of and for such equipment and facilities.
Direct administrative expenses associated with the provision of job
access and reverse commute services are also eligible operating
expenses.
7. Community to be Served--neighborhoods and geographic areas
with a disproportionate number of welfare recipients and low-income
residents as compared to the general population, and population
groups such as tribes, migrant workers, and persons with
disabilities who experience a disproportionate number of welfare
recipients and low-income persons within them.
Appendix C: Sample Project Budget (One for each project)
Fiscal Year 2000 Funding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area size
Applicant -------------------------------
Federal amount Total amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Job Access Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Costs .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
Quantity............................ .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
Quantity............................ .............. ..............
Example: .............. ..............
Activity Vans...................... .............. ..............
Quantity 4........................ .............. ..............
Operating Costs: .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
Example: .............. ..............
Activity Late Night................... .............. ..............
Service (3 Routes): .............. ..............
Total............................. .............. ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Reverse Commute Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Costs: .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
[[Page 13219]]
Quantity............................ .............. ..............
Activity.............................. .............. ..............
Quantity............................ .............. ..............
Example: .............. ..............
Activity Vans.................... .............. ..............
Quantity 4........................ .............. ..............
Operating Costs: .............. ..............
Activity............................ .............. ..............
Activity............................ .............. ..............
Example: .............. ..............
Activity Two new routes.......... .............. ..............
Total............................. .............. ..............
Grand Total (A or B or A & B)..... .............. ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those applicants seeking a multi-year commitment, provide this
information for subsequent years or reference budget material from
your Area-wide Job Access Transportation Plan.
Appendix D: Summary of FTA'S Section 5307 Requirements
This is the full range of 5307 requirements. Some of these items
are covered in the application, in which case you will not need to
submit information twice.
Approval Prerequisites
(On file with FTA, or to be submitted with application and updates
as appropriate)
Opinion of Counsel
Authorizing Resolution
Current annual Certification and Assurances
Civil rights submissions up-to-date
Title VI
Annual DBE Goal
DBE Program
EEO Program
ADA
National Transit Database reports up-to-date
Any outstanding oversight findings resolved or resolution plan and
schedule set
Additional Information
Project Budget
Project Description
Project Justification/Supporting Information as necessary
Project Milestone Schedule
Labor Union Description(s) (See Appendix F for a description of
required information)
Environmental Review
Date of FTA's signing of FONSI (Finding of No Significant
Impact), or
Date of FTA's signing of ROD (Record of Decision) closing out
the EIS process, or
Grant applicant's Categorical Exclusion recommendation if
neither (a) nor (b) above applies
Air Quality
Date of project level conformity determination by FTA, or
Applicant's recommendation concerning list of exemptions in the
conformity regulation (40 CFR Part 51)
STIP--Date of Approval by FTA
Request for copy of Master Agreement (If applicant does not have
latest one on file)
Appendix E: ADA Certification
Assurance of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
As required by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Nondiscrimination on the
Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting
from Federal Financial Assistance,'' at 49 CFR part 27, implementing
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Applicant assures that, as
a condition to the approval or extension of any Federal assistance
awarded by FTA to construct any facility, obtain any rolling stock
or other equipment, undertake studies, conduct research, or to
participate in or obtain any benefit from any program administered
by FTA, no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall be,
solely by reason of that disability, excluded from participation in,
denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in
any program or activity receiving or benefiting from Federal
assistance administered by the FTA or any entity within U.S. DOT.
The Applicant assures that project implementation and operations so
assisted will comply with all applicable requirements of U.S. DOT 29
U.S.C. 794, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. At 49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 38, and
any applicable regulations and directives issued by other Federal
departments or agencies.
Appendix F: Information Required by the U.S. Department of Labor for
Labor Certification
I. Background
Federal Transit law requires that fair and equitable
arrangements must be made, as determined by the U.S. Department of
Labor (DOL), to protect the interests of employees affected by Job
Access and Reverse Commute grants. These interests include the
preservation of rights, privileges, and benefits under existing
collective bargaining agreements, the continuation of collective
bargaining rights, the protection of individual employees against a
worsening of their positions related to employment, assurances of
employment to employees of acquired mass transportation systems,
priority of reemployment, and paid training or retraining.
DOL processes the employee protection certifications required
under section 5333(b) in accordance with procedural Guidelines
published at 29 CFR 215.3 (July 28, 1999 Federal Register). The DOL
will process Job Access grants serving populations of 200,000 or
more by referring a copy of the grant application to labor
organizations representing affected employees and seeking the views
of organized labor and the grant recipients on proposed
certification terms. For grants serving populations under 200,000,
DOL will issue its certification without seeking the views of the
parties. In either case, the certification terms will be based on
existing protective arrangements used for prior FTA grants, if any,
or standard operating and/or capital arrangements developed by the
DOL where there are no existing arrangements. (Such existing
arrangements do not include the Special Section 13(c) Warranty that
is used for projects funded under the Section 5311 program.)
It is essential where there are questions regarding the DOL
certification process and/or information needed by DOL to obtain a
labor certification that the applicant contact the appropriate
Regional Office immediately. Where information lacks specificity, is
unclear or is missing, DOL will place the grant application in an
``incomplete'' status until the necessary information is received.
Conceptual terms such as ``collaborative effort'' or ``working in
conjunction with * * *'' or ``services will be provided to assist *
* *'' do not provide the specificity necessary for DOL to process a
grant.
Upon receipt of a grant application, DOL will determine whether
there is sufficient information to process the grant application.
Because it is DOL's responsibility to address the protections
afforded employees through the certification of appropriate
protections, it must examine the activities of each subrecipient
under the grant in order to frame a protective arrangement
appropriate to the activity funded. The following information is
needed by DOL to process all Job Access and Reverse Commute grant
[[Page 13220]]
applications (including those areas under 200,000).
II. Description of Required Information
DOL needs the following information to process a grant
application for labor certification.
a. Project Description (Brief). This section should contain a
brief, succinct description of what is in the project. This
generally would cover the major budget line items.
b. Project Description (Detail). This section should provide a
complete description of each activity to be undertaken. It should
include funding information, what the project application is for,
how and where line items will be used whether the project is new
service, and a description of the operating service area of the
recipient or subrecipient. If there is more than one subrecipient
under a grant, this information must be developed for each
subrecipient's portion of the project.
c. Grantee Contact Person. This information is not contained in
the TEAM application. Under ``Project Details'' please enter the
name of a contact person for the grantee. In addition, if the grant
will ``pass through'' funding to one or more subrecipients or other
public entities, enter the full name of the subrecipient or other
public entity, a contact name, mailing address, telephone number and
facsimile number for each of these.
d. Union Information. This information is not contained in the
TEAM application. Under ``Project Details'' please (1) identify all
the labor organizations that represent transit employees of the
recipient and each subrecipient, and (2) identify any other
transportation providers which operate in the service area of the
recipient and the subrecipients and all labor organizations that
represent employees of these other transportation providers. Because
employee protections are not limited to the employees of the grant
recipient, other service area providers must be identified. Please
note that a useful reference for obtaining labor union information
is contained in Directory of U.S. Labor Organizations, 1999 edition.
This may be purchased from the Bureau of National Affairs Books,
P.O. Box 7814, Edison, N.J. 08810-7814. Telephone orders: 1-(800)-
960-1220.
For each local of a nationally affiliated union, the applicant
must provide the name of the national organization and the number or
other designation of the local union. (For example, Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 1258.) Since DOL makes its referral to the
national union's headquarters, there is no need to provide a local
contact in these situations.
However, for each independent labor organization (i.e., a union
that is not affiliated with a national or international
organization) the local contact information will be necessary (name
of organization, contact person, mailing address, telephone number,
facsimile number).
e. Extended Budget Descriptions. This must provide a project
description and project justification for most line items. There are
few line items that need no additional description and/or
justification. If there are subreceipients under a grant, indicate
which subrecipient will receive funds under each budget description.
If you have any questions, please contact the U.S. Department of
Labor, Division of Statutory Programs, at (202) 693-0126
Appendix G: Agency Classifications
State Government
State DOT
State Human Services
State Labor/Employment
Other State Agencies
Indian Tribe
Transportation Providers
Public Transportation Providers
Regional Public Transit Authority
State Transit Agency
City Transit Agency
County Transit Agency
Private for Profit Companies
Bus
Taxi
Specialized Service (e.g., Medicaid Operator)
Other
Non-Profit Organizations
Human Services Transportation Provider
Community-Based Organization
Other
Transportation Planning Organizations
MPO
Council of Governments
Other
Local governments--General Purpose
County Government
City Government
Human Sevice Agencies
Local County/City Public Human Svcs Agency
Local County/City Welfare Agency
Local County/City Workforce Development Agency
Local Public Housing Agency
Non-Profit Service Providers
Human Support Services (e.g., Child Care, Substance Abuse)
Employment (e.g., Job Training, Job Placement)
Economic Development Agencies
Local/County Government
Non-Profit Corporations
Private Nonprofit Agencies
Community Action Agencies & Organizations
Community-Based Organizations
Faith-Based Organizations
Other private nonprofit organizations
Business Organizations
Chamber of Commerce
Transportation Management Organization
Other Organizations
[FR Doc. 00-5810 Filed 3-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-U