# Presentation: 710236

## Section 5317: New Freedom Program (NFP)

- David Schneider
- Federal Transit Administration
- ESPA National Steering Committee Meeting
- September 27, 2007

## Background Information 

- The New Freedom Program was created by SAFETEA-LU.
- SAFETEA-LU funded the program at $339 million over five years.
- FTA developed New Freedom program guidance beginning in 2005 and ending in March 2007.
- Final guidance went into effect on May 1, 2007.

## Where to Find New Freedom Program Guidance

- FTA’s New Freedom Circular 9045.1 is available at _[http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_circulars_guidance.html](http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_circulars_guidance.html)__ _
- Additional guidance is available at the “Grant Programs” section of FTA’s website at _[http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3549.html](http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3549.html)__ _

## The New Freedom Program (NFP) enhances transportation for people with disabilities beyond the ADA which are
New public transportation, or
New alternatives to public transportation
Formula program based on the population of people with disabilities in states and large urbanized areas. 

- New public transportation, or
- New alternatives to public transportation
- Formula program based on the population of people with disabilities in states and large urbanized areas.

**The New Freedom Program**
**Overview**
**NEW IN SAFETEA-LU **

## NFP Overview

- Funds divided on a 60/20/20 split
- Direct apportionment to urbanized areas with population of 200,000 or more
- State administered for areas with population under 200,000
- Eligible subrecipients are private non-profits, public entities, operators of public transportation services

## NFP Eligibility

- Capital and operating funding:
- Capital: 80/20 Federal/local match
- Operating: 50/50 Federal/local match
- Administration (up to 10% recipient’s total): 100% Federal
- Local match may be from other non-DOT Federal funds

## NFP Eligibility 

- What is “new” service?
- Not operational on August 10, 2005
- Or
- Did not have an identified funding source on August 10, 2005

## NFP Eligibility 

- What is “beyond the ADA”?
- Services that are not required under the ADA
- Service, equipment or facility enhancements that exceed minimum ADA obligations
- ADA is a civil right; NFP does NOT fund meeting minimum ADA requirements

## NFP Eligibility 

- Paratransit service area beyond 3/4 mile
- Paratransit hours beyond fixed-route hours
- Cost to change from next-day to same-day
- Cost to change from curb-to-curb to door-to-door for all riders
- Escorts or door-through-door service

## NFP Eligibility 

- Vehicles and equipment designed to accommodate mobility aids larger and heavier than “common” wheelchairs.
- Additional wheelchair securement locations on buses
- New “feeder” service to commuter stations

## NFP Eligibility

- Accessibility improvements to stations that are not key stations
- Accessible path
- Elevator, ramp or detectable warnings
- Signage or wayfinding technology
- Other technology improvements

## NFP Eligibility

- Travel training
- Public transportation alternatives:
- Accessible taxi, ridesharing, vanpool
- Voucher
- Volunteer driver and aide programs
- Mobility management and coordination programs

## NFP Eligibility

- Mobility management activities:
- Consists of short-range planning and management activities for improving coordination
- Excludes operating public transportation services
- Is a capital expense (80/20)

## NFP Eligibility

- Mobility management activities:
- Short-term management activities
- Coordination bodies and councils
- Transportation brokerages
- Travel training and trip planning/navigators
- One-stop transportation call centers
- Planning for ITS

## Administering the New Freedom Program 

- The Governor selects an entity to administer the grant (a “designated recipient” for the state and large urbanized areas).
- Stakeholders develop local transportation human services coordinated plan.
- The designated recipient conducts a solicitation for projects designed to meet the priorities of the coordinated plan.
- The designated recipient selects projects and applies to FTA for funds.

## Relationship between Coordinated Planning and Competitive Selection

## NFP Coordinated Planning

- All projects must be derived from a locally coordinated plan.
- The planning process must include representatives of the public, private, non-profit, transportation and human service providers and members of the public.
- Stakeholders should have reasonable opportunities to be involved in the decisionmaking process.
- Explicit consideration and response should be provided to input received.

## Elements of the Coordinated Plan 

- The plan needs to include:
- An assessment of available services that identifies current transportation providers.
- An assessment of transportation needs.
- Strategies to address the gaps between services and needs and provide more efficient service.
- Priority for implementation based on resources, time and feasibility.

## NFP Competitive Selection

- Competitions every 1 to 3 years
- Competitive approach and selection criteria determined by designated recipient
- Announcement of competition and selected projects by designated recipient

## Status of New Freedom Program Grants 

- Most New Freedom Program Funds remain unobligated.
- Thus far FTA has awarded 90 grants totaling $9.1 million (5.7% of funds available for FY 2006 and 2007).
- 31 of the grants are for administrative expenses.
- The remainder are a mix of capital and operating to rural, small urban, and large urban.

## Examples of Grants Awarded So far...

- $84,000 for a call center in McHenry, IL.
- $400,000 to Ride DuPage (IL) to reduce cost of fares from $3 to $1.50.
- $35,000 to Winstead, CT for new Sunday paratransit service.
- $34,000 for travel training in San Diego County.

## New Freedom Performance Measures 

- Increases or enhancements related to geographic coverage, service quality and/or service times that impact availability of transportation services for individuals with disabilities
- Additions or changes to environmental infrastructure (e.g., transportation facilities, side walks, etc), technology, and vehicles
- Actual or estimated number of rides (as measured by one-way trips) provided for individuals with disabilities

## Technical Assistance Resources 

- FTA New Freedom Web Page
- _[http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3549.html](http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3549.html)_
- United We Ride Web page, _[www.unitedweride.org](http://www.unitedweride.org/)__ _

## My Contact Information 

- David Schneider
- FTA Office of Program Management
- 202-493-0175
- _[David.Schneider@dot.gov](mailto:David.Schneider@dot.gov)__ _