# Presentation: 307255

## Kate Mattice
Chief, Policy Review and Development Division
Federal Transit Administration

- Chief, Policy Review and Development Division
- Federal Transit Administration

**Alternative Transportation in the Parks and Public Lands: ****Our Kick-Off Year**

## ATPPL:  Our Kick-Off Year

- The ATPPL program: Program Highlights
- FY 2006
- Project Evaluation Process
- Project Recommendations
- Where we are right now
- Other Program Aspects Ramping Up
- FY 2007 Project Call
- Questions?

## The ATPPL Program:  Program Highlights

**The ATPPL Program:  Program Highlights**

- Established by SAFETEA-LU Section 3021, codified in 49 U.S.C. 5320.
- Stemmed from the TEA-21 “3039 Study” which identified more than $600m in alternative transportation needs at federal lands.
- Provides funding for alternative transportation planning and capital projects in any federal land
- Eligible projects include items such as buses, rail cars, ferries, ITS, maintenance facilities, trails, watercraft
- Expands beyond typical FTA “transit” projects

## The ATPPL Program:  Program Highlights

- Funding: $97 million from FY 2006-2009
- ~$22 million for FY 2006
- Program goals are:
- to conserve natural, historical, and cultural resources;
- reduce congestion and pollution;
- improve visitor mobility and accessibility;
- enhance visitor experience; and
- ensure access to all, including persons with disabilities.

## The ATPPL program: Program Highlights

**The ATPPL program: Program Highlights**

- Selection done by the Department of the Interior, with FTA concurrence
- Administration done by FTA, with extensive participation by staff from National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management
- Two** **types of project sponsors:
- Federal land management agencies;
- State, local, and tribal governments acting with the consent of a federal land management agency
- Funding goes directly to the lead project sponsor
- Through FTA grants (State/local)
- Through Interagency Agreements to Federal land management agencies

**Notes:**
SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding of $97 million over the duration of the act (FY 2005 – 2009).  SAFETEA-LU authorizes $22 million in FY 2006, $23 million in FY 2007, $25 million in FY 2008, and $27 million in FY 2009. 
$21,780,000 was appropriated for FY 2006 

## FY 2006  Project Evaluation Process

**FY 2006  Project Evaluation Process**

- Funding available for FY 2006 projects = $19.6 million
- Project proposals were solicited through the Federal Register in April 2006
- Received 78 project proposals, totaling $40.5 million.  That is about two times the amount of funding available, indicating high demand for the program.
- Inter-agency technical review committee carefully evaluated the project proposals based on the criteria defined in SAFETEA-LU
- Committee provided project recommendation list to the Secretary of the Interior
- Final project selection expected within week

## FY 2006 Project Recommendations

**FY 2006 Project Recommendations**

- Approximately 40 projects were recommended for funding in FY 2006
- Recommended projects are a diverse set of capital and planning projects, ranging from bus purchases to ferry docks
- Primarily capital projects
- Majority in National Parks, but also projects within National Forests and Fish and Wildlife Refuges
- Specific projects include:
- purchase of buses for new transit service,
- replacement of buses and trams,
- purchase of new transportation vehicles,
- deferred maintenance,
- safety, accessibility, ITS and
- planning studies.

## FY 2006 Project Recommendations (cont.)

**FY 2006 Project Recommendations (cont.)**

- Recommended projects include funding for both _existing_ alternative transportation systems – through projects such as purchasing replacement buses – and funding for brand _new_ systems.
- There are projects in all major geographic regions and in urban areas as well as rural areas.
- Projects are evenly distributed between State/local governments and Federal land management agencies.
- Most projects range in size from $200,000 to $1.5 million.

## FY 2006 Projects: Where we are right now

**FY 2006 Projects: Where we are right now**

- DOI is nearing the final selection of FY 2006 projects for funding
- Upon approval, FTA will receive list for concurrence
- FTA will quickly work on getting funding out to recipients
- Program/grantee requirements for FY 2006 will be considered interim for this year
- DOI/DOT plan on holding a “roll out” event
- Stay tuned for more details

## Other Program Aspects Ramping Up

- Program allows up to 10% of funding to be used for technical assistance, planning, and research
- Technical Support and Planning
- FTA will be working with our Regional office to provide technical assistance to State/local governments
- FTA is in the process of creating more comprehensive guidance for planning and implementation
- FTA will be working with agencies to conduct TAG teams at land units to provide early systems planning support
- Research
- It’s in the early stages, but FTA plans on doing a research program “call for proposals” in the fall

## FY 2007 Project Call

- Congress is in process of appropriating FY 2007 funding
- So far, no earmarks in the House or Senate Committee-passed bills
- Conference committee not planned until fall
- FTA/DOI will do a call for FY 2007 project proposals in Fall
- Currently have tentative list of candidate projects from participating land management agencies based upon their FY 2006 submissions
- FY 2007 project call will also solicit comments on program requirements
- Project selection would be scheduled for early 2007

## For more information, go to

**http://www.fta.dot.gov**

**Or call/email:**
**Kate Mattice**
- Chief, Policy Review and Development Division
- Federal Transit Administration
- (202) 493-0239
- katherine.mattice@dot.gov
**Lou Delorme**
- ATPPL Program Manager
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- (202) 208-4948
- louis_delorme@ois.doi.gov