[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 67 (Monday, April 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16790-16799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8389]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Job Access and Reverse Commute Program Grants
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant
proposals.
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[[Page 16791]]
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces the solicitation of grant proposals for
Fiscal Years (FY) 2002 and 2003 funding provided under the Job Access
and Reverse Commute (JARC) grant program, as authorized under Section
3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
The FY 2002 DOT Appropriations Act provides $125 million for the JARC
Program, the guaranteed funding level under TEA-21. In the FY 2002
Conference Report the appropriators indicated their desire for
$109,339,000 of this amount to be awarded to specified States and
localities. These congressionally-specified areas were included in
FTA's 2002 Annual Apportionment Notice, published in the Federal
Register on January 2, 2002. That notice can be found at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/federalregister/2002/fr1202a.pdf. States,
localities, and private nonprofit agencies listed in the report, along
with States, localities, and private nonprofit agencies not so listed,
must follow the application procedures provided in this notice to apply
for JARC funding. The guaranteed funding level for the JARC program is
$150 million for fiscal year 2003, the final year of the program under
FTA's current authorizing legislation. This announcement describes the
conditions under which proposals will be received for the FY 2002 and
FY 2003 JARC competitive grant program and the criteria that FTA will
apply in evaluating project proposals. It includes all of the
information needed to apply for JARC competitive grants.
This announcement is available on the U.S. Department of
Transportation's FTA website at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw.
DATES: All proposal applications for funding of continuation projects
must be submitted to the appropriate FTA regional office (see Appendix
B) and be received no later than June 7, 2002. Proposal applications
for new projects must be submitted no later than July 8, 2002, but
applicants must notify the appropriate regional office of their intent
to apply for funding no later than June 7, 2002. The 60-day deadline
will allow FTA to inform Congress of demands for FY 2003 funds before
deliberation on FTA's fiscal year 2003 budget. The selection of
projects to be funded will be announced upon completion of the
evaluation process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the appropriate FTA Regional
Administrator (see Appendix B) for proposal-specific information and
issues. For general program information, contact Sue Masselink, Office
of Program Management, (202) 366-2053, email [email protected].
A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS). Comments or questions
related to this notice may be mailed, faxed, or electronically
submitted to Sue Masselink, Federal Transit Administration, Room 9315,
400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; FAX (202) 366-7951; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003 Program Highlights
II. General Program Information
III. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Proposal Applications
IV. Grant Proposal Application Development and Submission
V. Grant Proposal Application Review and Evaluation Process
VI. General Grant Requirements and Performance Monitoring
Appendix A JARC Grant Proposal Application
Appendix B FTA Regional Offices
Appendix C Definitions
Appendix D Program Background Information
Appendix E Summary of FTA's Section 5307 Requirements
Appendix F Information Required by the U.S. Department of Labor For
Labor Certification
Appendix G Agency Classifications
I. Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003 Program Highlights
A. Projects for Congressionally-Designated Areas
Applicants for JARC projects in congressionally-designated areas
must submit applications responding to the program selection criteria
and will be evaluated, scored, and ranked against all other applicants.
Consistent with statutory requirements for competitive selection of
projects, funds will be allocated among all projects, including those
in congressionally-designated areas, based upon their ranking in the
competitive evaluation process and other factors as set forth in this
notice.
B. Multi-Year Funding
Because recipients of JARC funds have expressed the need for multi-
year funding through the early stages of project implementation and
because FY 2003 is the last year of the authorization period for the
JARC program, FTA will consider multi-year funding. To give effect to
this new policy, FTA will give priority to funding continuation of
previously selected projects. FTA is soliciting applications for
funding from those applicants previously funded under the JARC program,
as well as from new JARC applicants. Grantees may apply for up to two
additional years of continuation funding beyond that previously
approved. Continuation does not include expansion of services beyond
those previously funded. Expanded services will be treated as new
projects. Applicants for all new projects, both existing JARC
recipients and eligible applicants that have not previously been
awarded JARC funds, are encouraged to apply for a level of funding that
will allow them to sustain new service for at least two years.
C. New Freedom Initiative Principles
The President and the Federal Departments are moving to implement a
``New Freedom'' Initiative, the intent of which is to tear down the
barriers to equality for persons with disabilities that remain after
the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As part of
that initiative, the President is proposing funding in FY 2003 to
support additional transportation services to assist persons with
disabilities to reach jobs. The major goal of the JARC program is to
increase access to jobs for welfare recipients and other low-income
individuals, and persons with disabilities are disproportionately
represented among low-income groups. The unemployment rate for
Americans with disabilities hovers at around 70 percent. The lack of
adequate transportation is a primary barrier to work for people with
disabilities; one-third of people with disabilities report that
transportation is a significant problem.
Accordingly, area-wide JARC Transportation Plans must address the
mobility needs of persons with disabilities, among others, in reaching
employment sites and support activities. Plans previously developed
that did not address the mobility needs of persons with disabilities
must be revised to include this information. Projects addressing the
needs of persons with disabilities will also be eligible for New
Freedom Initiative funding being proposed by the Department of
Transportation in FY 2003, subject to these funds being made available
by Congress.
D. Automobile Programs
While direct funding to individuals for private automobile
ownership and repair is not eligible under the program, funds may be
used for local programs that assist individuals in acquiring and
maintaining vehicles, such as loan programs that help low-income
[[Page 16792]]
individuals purchase vehicles. Agencies that receive funding for such
projects must ensure that title to the vehicles remains with the funded
agency, that the vehicles are used for shared rides, and that the
vehicles are used for intended purposes.
E. Pre-Award Authority
FTA is providing pre-award spending authority for this program
which permits successful applicants to incur costs on eligible projects
without prejudice to possible Federal participation in the cost of the
project(s). However, in exercising pre-award authority, successful
applicants must comply with all Federal requirements. Failure to do so
will render a project ineligible for FTA financial assistance.
Successful applicants must consult the appropriate FTA regional office
regarding the eligibility of the project for future FTA funds or the
applicability of the conditions and Federal requirements. Pre-award
spending authority is provided to projects selected and announced in
response to this notice effective December 18, 2001, the date on which
the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2002 was signed into law by
President Bush.
F. Electronic Application
An electronic application for FY 2002/2003 proposals is posted on
the FTA website at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/ftagpa.html. Applicants
may input information directly without downloading the application.
II. General Program Information
A. Authority.
This program is authorized under Section 3037 of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
B. Scope
Improving mobility and advancing economic development are key
strategic goals of the US DOT. Job Access funds help improve mobility
and economic opportunity for welfare recipients and other low-income
people through the provision of new or expanded transportation service.
Reverse Commute funds help improve mobility to suburban employment
opportunities for the general public, including welfare recipients and
low-income individuals.
C. Eligible Applicants
Local agencies and authorities and private non-profit organizations
are eligible to apply for JARC Program funds. Local agencies and
authorities include states, local governments, metropolitan planning
organizations, public transit agencies and tribal organizations.
In urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or more, MPOs select
the applicant(s). FTA urges MPOs to designate a single recipient to
submit a consolidated application in these urbanized areas.
In areas with populations under 200,000, states select the
applicants. For areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000,
applications forwarded to the state for selection must be endorsed by
the area MPO as a project the MPO would be willing to include in the
Transportation Improvement Program if the projects were selected for
funding. States are urged to serve as the designated recipients for
grants to small urban and nonurbanized areas. The selected grant
recipient can suballocate funds to other project participants.
D. Eligible Projects
Job Access and Reverse Commute Projects. A Job Access project is
one that provides new or expanded transportation service designed to
fill gaps that exist for welfare recipients and other low-income
individuals to and from jobs and other employment-related services. A
Reverse Commute project facilitates the provision of new or expanded
public mass transportation services for the general public from urban,
suburban, and rural areas to suburban work sites. Capital and operating
costs for such projects are eligible. Localities have wide flexibility
in selecting service strategies that are appropriate to their areas,
including but not limited to:
(a) Late-night and weekend service;
(b) guaranteed ride home service;
(c) shuttle service;
(d) expanding fixed-route mass transit routes;
(e) demand-responsive van service;
(f) ridesharing and carpooling activities;
(g) bicycling; and
(h) local car loan programs that assist individuals in purchasing
and maintaining vehicles for shared-rides
Lead applicants submitting consolidated applications on behalf of a
number of subrecipients may apply for program administration costs of
up to 10 percent of the grant request.
JARC Program funds may also be used for promoting, through
marketing efforts, the:
(a) use of transit by workers with non-traditional work schedules;
(b) the use of transit voucher programs by appropriate agencies for
welfare recipients and other low-income individuals;
(c) development of employer-provided transportation such as
shuttles, ridesharing, carpooling; or
(d) use of transit pass programs and benefits under Section 13 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
In order 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 technology;
(d) integrate automated regional public transit and human service
transportation information, scheduling and dispatch functions; and
(e) deploy vehicle position-monitoring systems.
E. Ineligible Costs
1. JARC funds may not be used for planning or coordination
activities. Metropolitan and Statewide Planning funds made available
under the FTA Sections 5303 and 5313(b) programs, FHWA Metropolitan
Planning Program (PL) (23 U.S.C. Section 134) and FHWA State Planning
and Research Program (SPR) (23 U.S.C. Section 505) funds 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 to Needy Families
(TANF) and the U.S. 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.
2. While the marketing and promotion of transit pass programs are
eligible expenses under the JARC Program, funding individual transit
passes is not an eligible expense. Transit passes are eligible expenses
under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare-to-
Work programs.
3. Additionally, the construction of child care centers and other
employment support facilities at transit hubs are not eligible for JARC
Program grants. Transit-oriented construction activities are eligible
under FTA's Section 5307, Section 5309, and Section 5311 grant
programs.
F. Cost Sharing
The JARC grant program is intended to fill gaps in existing
services and leverage other Federal, state and local transportation
funding to address the unmet needs of individuals moving
[[Page 16793]]
from welfare to work and other low-income individuals. 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 US DOT share of a grant under the JARC Program may not
exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. The non-US DOT share shall
be provided in cash or in the form of in-kind services that have a
discernable cash value that is directly attributable to the service to
be provided. 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 matching funds.
Transportation--eligible funding from Federal programs other than
the Department of Transportation may be used to match US DOT funds.
These funds include, but are not limited to:
a. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families administered by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services;
b. Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and Social Services Block
Grants (SSBG) administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services;
c. Workforce Investment and 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 prohibition on the use of WtW funds for matching requirements
under section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act does 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 JARC 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 June 1, 2000, which
reflects changes in the final TANF rule. The joint guidance is at:
http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/uoft.html.
G. Planning
1. Coordinated Transportation/Human Services Planning Process
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 statewide and
metropolitan transportation plans and improvement programs. DOT expects
that the JARC grant program will be a catalyst for broadening the
transportation planning process to better integrate employment and
social equity considerations.
Proposed JARC projects must be derived from an Area-wide JARC
Transportation Plan (see below) developed through 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 of existing transportation service providers (local
transit agencies and private nonprofit and for-profit transportation
operators, such as human service transportation providers and taxi
companies); 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 such as
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 Centers;
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; local
government officials including mayors, and county supervisors; and
state officials, such as state legislators, governors and others; and
interested citizens. Participants in the planning process should
provide written endorsement or sign-off of the Area-wide JARC
Transportation Plan.
2. Area-Wide JARC 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 JARC 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 Plan must:
a. Identify the geographic distribution 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 services
transportation providers in the region;
d. Identify transportation gaps between the geographic
distributions of 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, in order of funding priority, 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;
(4) an explanation of how the project will meet the mobility needs
of persons with disabilities in reaching employment sites and support
activities; and
(5) identification of any employer-provided or employer-assisted
transportation service strategies incorporated in the project.
[[Page 16794]]
The area-wide JARC Transportation Plan should build on and
incorporate existing welfare-to-work transportation planning
activities. As noted in the Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003 Program
Highlights, Section I.C. above, if a previously adopted plan did not
address the mobility needs of persons with disabilities, it must be
revised to include this information.
1. MPO Planning Requirements
In regions with populations of more than 200,000, MPOs are
responsible for selecting applicants to be considered for Federal JARC
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 JARC grants.
This means that MPOs are responsible for the following:
(a) Determining that JARC projects are consistent with the regional
long-range transportation plan.
(b) Ensuring that the submitted application contains projects
prioritized according to local need.
(c) Endorsing and subsequently programming JARC 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 the Joint FHWA/FTA Planning Rule (23 CFR part 450, 49
CFR part 613).
In all regions with MPOs, individual JARC 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 JARC 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 JARC 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, JARC
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).
III. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Proposal Applications
FTA is conducting a national solicitation for application proposals
under the JARC Program for FY 2002 and FY 2003 funding. All grant
awards, including those to congressionally-specified areas, will be
made on a competitive basis. FTA encourages both traditional
transportation recipients and new program entrants in urban, suburban,
and rural areas to participate in the development of projects.
Applicants must submit a proposal that describes the proposed project
for which funding is sought and responds to the requirements outlined
in this Notice. A project for which funding is sought is a service or
set of services targeted to serve welfare recipients and low-income
individuals, including persons with disabilities, living in a specific
and distinguishable geographic locale. Because FY 2003 is the last year
of the program under TEA-21, applicants are encouraged to apply for a
level of funding sufficient to sustain the project for two years. If
selected for funding, the applicant must document compliance with the
standard FTA requirements listed in Appendix E as well as the
availability of the financial match for the grant. Contact the
appropriate FTA regional office for guidance on meeting standard FTA
program requirements.
For continuation projects, applicants must also document
satisfactory progress toward achieving JARC program goals. Current JARC
grantees desiring continuation of funding for a project must document
the continued endorsement of its planning partners, and provide an
update of what has already been accomplished and the level of funding
drawn down to date. Recipients requesting continuation funding may
apply for up to two additional years of funding beyond that previously
approved.
A. Grant Funding Amounts
Suggested grant sizes are identified below:
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 over 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 this state funding limitation.
IV. Grant Proposal 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 subrecipients. Tribal governments 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 such as states and local transit agencies are familiar with
many of the FTA requirements that apply to this program, FTA encourages
these entities to submit applications on behalf of other entities.
Applicants should submit proposals to the appropriate regional
office electronically according to the instructions included in the
electronic application form, available through FTA's website at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/ftagpa.html. If an applicant is unable to submit
the application electronically, the proposal should be submitted on a
3.5 inch formatted disk for use on a personal computer (PC). Documents
should be submitted to the appropriate Regional Office in Word or Rich
Text Format (RTF). Tables should be submitted in an Excel, or Tab
Delimited Format. Submission of proposal applications for continuation
funding must be received
[[Page 16795]]
by FTA no later than 60 days after the date of this notice. Submission
of proposal applications for funding for new projects must be received
by FTA no later than 90 days after the date of this notice, although
these applicants must notify the appropriate regional office of their
intent to submit a proposal application no later than 60 days after the
date of this notice.
V. Grant Proposal Application Review and Evaluation Process
FTA will screen all applications to determine whether all required
eligibility elements are present. In addition to mandated project award
criteria, FTA will select projects based on what is most advantageous
to the government, and may consider the following factors: FTA's
commitment to continue funding JARC projects already funded and
undertaken; the time frame in which projects can be implemented;
Congressional designation of projects for funding; and geographic
distribution of project funds.
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 have not been
met. Technical assistance regarding these requirements is available
from each FTA regional office.
FTA is committed to obligating 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.
VI. General Grant Requirements and Performance Monitoring
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--see Appendix E). Applicants must have the financial, legal, and
technical capacity to apply for and administer projects. Also included
are planning; environmental; school bus; charter; procurement; labor
protections; 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 E for a
description of required information).
FTA requires grant recipients to monitor the performance of their
JARC services and to cooperate with the FTA and General Accounting
Office (GAO) national evaluations mandated by law. Evaluation of JARC
project progress will be a key element in determining continuation of
FTA financial assistance. Performance measures on: (1) Increasing
access between welfare recipients and low-income populations and
employment sites; and (2) job access and reverse commute service
effectiveness and efficiency must be provided. The required performance
measures may be found on FTA's web site (www.fta.dot.gov/wtw).
Performance monitoring will take place primarily through FTA standard
project progress reports. 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 program of projects 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: quarterly milestone/
progress and financial status reports, National Transit Database
reporting, annual audits and triennial review.
Issued on: April 2, 2002.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
Appendix A: JARC Grant Proposal Application
Below is the information that is requested in the JARC
electronic form at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/ftagpa.html.
Federal Transit Administration Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
Grant Proposal Application
This section requests information for the application as a
whole:
Applicant Information
Name:
Type of Agency (see Appendix G):
Subrecipient Information
List of Subrecipients:
Type of Agencies (see Appendix G):
For Additional Information Contact:
Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
For Notification of Project Selection Contact:
Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
Proposal Summary
(2 paragraphs, 250 words or less, for press purposes, including
planning partners, brief description of gaps in service that exist
and services proposed to bridge gaps, intended project
beneficiaries):
Brief Description of Applicant's Financial, Legal and Technical
Ability To Apply for and Administer Projects
Total Federal JARC Funding Requested for All Continuation Projects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>1,000,000 200,000-1,000,000 50,000-200,000 50,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2002:
Job Access.................. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
Reverse Commute............. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
FY 2003:
Job Access.................. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
Reverse Commute............. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Federal JARC Funding Requested for All New Projects
[[Page 16796]]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>1,000,000 200,000-1,000,000 50,000-200,000 50,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2002:
Job Access.................. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
Reverse Commute............. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
FY 2003:
Job Access.................. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
Reverse Commute............. $________________ $________________ $________________ $________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please List for Each Project in Funding Priority Order
Funding Priority
Short Title
Area Served
Congressional District(s)
Continuation
New
This section requests information on a project-by-project basis.
Projects will be evaluated according to responses to the
following four criteria, the values of which are provided.
Applicants applying for funding for a number of projects, such as
state-wide or metro-wide applicants, should provide the following
information for each JARC project. A project is a service or a set
of services aimed at a low-income population located in a specific
geographic area (see Appendix C--Definitions).
Project (identified by funding priority number from part
1):________
1. Coordinated Human Services/Transportation Planning Process and
Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan (25
Points)
A. Date Area-wide JARC Transportation Plan submitted to
appropriate FTA regional office:
Month------------------------------------------------------------------
Year-------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Date of latest revisions to Area-wide JARC Transportation
Plan submitted to appropriate FTA regional office:
Month------------------------------------------------------------------
Year-------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Brief (250 words or less) description of the collaborative
human services/transportation planning process used in developing
the Area-wide JARC Transportation Plan, including all participants
(states, MPOs, existing transportation providers, agencies
administering TANF and WtW funds, employers, and others):
D. Brief (250 words or less) description of outreach efforts to
community to be served (i.e., welfare recipients and other low-
income individuals).
E. Number of meetings of JARC transportation planning partners
since original Area-wide JARC Transportation Plan was submitted to
FTA:
0----------------------------------------------------------------------
1----------------------------------------------------------------------
2----------------------------------------------------------------------
3----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 or more--------------------------------------------------------------
F. Did all partners provide written endorsement of the plan?
Yes--------------------------------------------------------------------
No---------------------------------------------------------------------
G. If not, please explain.
2. Demonstrated Need for Additional Transportation Services (30
Points)
A. Percentage of low-income persons in project service area.
0-20%------------------------------------------------------------------
21-40%-----------------------------------------------------------------
41-60%-----------------------------------------------------------------
61-80%-----------------------------------------------------------------
81-100%----------------------------------------------------------------
B. Percentage of low-income persons in Metropolitan Statistical
Area or county.
0-20%------------------------------------------------------------------
21-40%-----------------------------------------------------------------
41-60%-----------------------------------------------------------------
61-80%-----------------------------------------------------------------
81-100%----------------------------------------------------------------
C. Describe the transportation gaps between existing services
and employment opportunities for low-income individuals in the
service area. Include:
--Definition of the proposed project service area(s).
--Description of major employment opportunities.
--Description of existing transportation network, including human
services, private and public transportation providers.
--Description of transportation gaps between welfare recipients and
other low-income populations and employment opportunity sites. (For
reverse commute projects, describe need for additional
transportation services.)
3. Extent to Which Proposed Services Will Meet the Needs for
Service (30 Points)
A. Percentage of target population (low-income population in
service areas) served by the proposed project.
1-10%------------------------------------------------------------------
11-30%-----------------------------------------------------------------
31-50%-----------------------------------------------------------------
51-100%----------------------------------------------------------------
B. Describe in detail the extent to which the proposed services
improve access to employment sites, employment support services
(training and child care, etc.) and low-income residential areas.
Include:
--Project description, including goals and objectives.
--Operation-specific data, such as miles/hours of service, new
routes, route extensions, reduced travel times, etc.
--Indicators that will be used to monitor project performance and to
make subsequent adjustments in project implementation.
--Estimate of annualized cost per rider.
--Employment potential in service area, including new jobs/
employment sites reached.
--Description of how project meets the mobility needs of persons
with disabilities.
D. Describe how the project effectively uses existing
transportation providers and integrates new services into existing
transportation system or services.
4. Financial Commitments (15 Points)
A. Document sources of matching funds and degree of commitment
for this project.
B. Identify long-term financing sources to support continuation
of the proposed project or other aspects of the regional plan,
including continued transit, human service and employer provided
financial resources.
C. For new projects, provide estimate of when services are
expected to begin.
Project Budget
Please prepare a separate Budget for each of the following:
Total Capital FTA Assistance--$----------------------------------------
List capital costs such as purchase of vehicles and facilities.
For vehicles, include the type of vehicles and quantity of each
type.
Capital Items
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Quantity
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Eligible Cost
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
FTA Amount
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Operating FTA Assistance--$--------------------------------------
List operating assistance costs. Include the period of
performance.
Operating costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dates
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Eligible Cost
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
FTA Amount
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 16797]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Administration: Applicants such as State DOT's or MPO's
applying on behalf of multiple subrecipients may include up to 10%
of the total project costs for project administration.
Total Eligible Cost
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
FTA Amount
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Project Cost:
Total JARC Federal Share
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Eligible Cost
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
$----------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information From Applicants Requesting Continuation
Funding
A. Project was previously funded under grant number(s):
B. Or, grant amendment number(s):
C. Total amount of funds approved for this project in previous
year(s):
D. Total amount of funds (from all previous years) dispersed to
date:
E. Brief summary of what has been accomplished to date:
F. New stops within \1/4\ mile of employment, childcare, or
employment training sites not previously accessible by transit:
G. Ridership on new transportation services provides since
service initiated: 3
Appendix B: FTA Regional Offices
Region I--Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
Vermont and Maine
Richard H. Doyle, FTA Regional Administrator, Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center, 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) 264-8162.
Region III--Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware,
Washington, DC
Susan Schruth, FTA Regional Administrator, 1760 Market Street,
Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124, (215) 656-7100.
Region IV--Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Puerto Rico
Jerry Franklin, FTA Regional Administrator, 61 Forsyth Street,
S.W., Suite 17T50, Atlanta, GA 30303, (404) 562-3500.
Region V--Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan
Joel Ettinger, FTA Regional Administrator, 200 West Adams
Street, Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606-5232, (312) 353-2789.
Region VI--Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Robert Patrick, FTA Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street,
Room 8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-0550.
Region VII--Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri
Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA Regional Administrator, 901 Locust Street,
Suite 404, Kansas City, MO 64106, (816) 329-3920.
Region VIII--Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming,
Utah
Lee Waddleton, FTA Regional Administrator, Columbine Place 216
16th Street, Suite 650, 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 94105-1831, (415) 744-3133.
Region X--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska
Helen Knoll, FTA Regional Administrator, Jackson Federal
Building 915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174-1002,
(206) 220-7954.
Appendix C: 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
2001 guidelines were published in the February 16, 2001 (Volume 66,
Number 33) Federal Register, page 10695-10697, and are available on
the web at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.htm.
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 are disproportionately represented among low-income
individuals.
8. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO)--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.
9. Project--A service or a set of services aimed at a low-income
population located in a specific geographic area. A project may
cover the entire area outlined in the Area-Wide Transportation Plan,
or it may be aimed at a specific geographic area within that plan.
Projects in areas with a population of over 200,000 frequently
include services directed toward the low-income population segments
of a political jurisdiction within the metropolitan region, but they
may address the entire low-income population throughout the
metropolitan region. Small urban (between 50,000 and 200,000 in
population) and rural areas (populations of below 50,000) can
propose projects that may be directed at low-income populations
located in a specific area, or throughout a small urban area,
county, or even at multi-county populations. State-wide proposals
should be divided into specific locations with specific subregions.
[[Page 16798]]
Appendix D: Program Background Information
While two-thirds of all new jobs are in the suburbs, three-
quarters of welfare recipients live in central cities or rural
areas. Studies in some metropolitan areas with extensive transit
systems 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 other 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.
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 likelihood that those workers will get and retain jobs.
The major goal of the JARC Program is to provide transportation
services in urban, suburban and rural areas to assist welfare
recipients and other low-income individuals in accessing employment
opportunities. Another objective of the program is to increase
collaboration among regional transportation providers, human service
agencies, employers, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),
states, and affected communities and individuals.
The JARC Program is intended to establish a regional approach to
job access challenges through the establishment of an Area-wide JARC
Transportation Plan. This plan is to be developed through a
collaborative planning process. Projects derived from this plan
support the implementation of a variety of transportation services
to connect welfare recipients and other low-income individuals to
jobs and related employment activities. All projects funded under
the JARC Program must be derived from such an area-wide plan.
Funding under the JARC Program is available for a wide range of
transportation services, but projects should be developed to make
the most efficient use of existing local transportation providers.
While projects must be planned in coordination with traditional
transit authorities where they exist, other interested
organizations, including MPOs and State DOTs, can take the lead in
establishing the collaborative planning process or submitting a
project application. The collaborative process must include
consultation with the community to be served, including welfare
recipients and other low-income individuals, persons with
disabilities, and faith- and community-based organizations that
represent the interests of such individuals.
A Job Access project provides transportation services designed
to transport welfare recipients and other low-income individuals to
and from jobs and activities related to their employment, such as
child-care and training facilities. A Reverse Commute project
provides transportation services designed to transport residents of
urban, suburban, and rural areas to suburban employment
opportunities. JARC projects implement new transportation services
or extend existing services to fill the gaps that exist in many
areas between where people live and employment sites. JARC projects
also promote the use of transportation services through marketing
efforts and by improving customer service and operating efficiency.
JARC Program funds may not be used for planning or coordinating
activities and cannot supplant existing sources of funds used for
transportation services.
JARC funds will provide for up to 50 percent of the project
cost. A non-US DOT match of at least 50 percent is required. Certain
other Federal funds that are eligible to be used for transportation
costs can be used as part or all of the non-US DOT match.
Appendix E: 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), STIP--Date of Approval by FTA, Request for
copy of Master Agreement (If applicant does not have latest one on
file)
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 FTA
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.
II. Description of Required Information
DOL needs the following information to process a JARC grant
application (including those for areas under 200,000 population) 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
[[Page 16799]]
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 that 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, 2001 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 section 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
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. 02-8389 Filed 4-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P