# Presentation: 394739

## The FY 2006 New Starts Report

- Responding to the Demand for Transit

## Overview of New Starts Program

- A Federal, state and local transportation partnership to improve mobility, promote economic growth, relieve congestion, and improve air quality
- Discretionary, competitive program
- Average Federal New Starts share: 50%
- $1.5 billion program requested in FY 2006
- Grown steadily from $440 million in 1991 (340%)
- Funds new and extensions to existing “fixed guideway” systems
- Light rail, subway/heavy rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit
- Projects are evaluated and rated by FTA
- For entry into Preliminary Engineering
- For entry into Final Design
- Prior to Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
- And annually for the New Starts Report
- Projects are funded through multi-year FFGAs

## An FFGA is a “Contract” Between the Federal Government and a Project Sponsor

- Assures predictable, multi-year Federal financial support for a specific project (subject to appropriation)
- Formally defines the project, including scope, cost and schedule;
- Establishes a maximum level of Federal financial assistance;
- Establishes the terms and conditions of Federal financial participation.

## New Starts Partnerships Will Help Meet the Growing Demand for Transit

- Communities throughout the Nation want more transit
- FTA’s rigorous evaluation and oversight ensure that these investments deliver value for the taxpayer dollar
- People all over the country will benefit from the proposed New Starts investments

## Communities Want More Transit

- FTA has evaluated and rated 27 projects for this New Starts Report
- All are *locally-*selected projects
- All are in preliminary engineering or final design
- Only projects seeking more than $25 million in Federal New Starts funding
- Additional 7 projects are exempt from FTA evaluation

## Proposed Projects Are...Located Throughout the Country

## ...In Urban Areas of all Sizes

- ...In Urban Areas of all Sizes

- 54% of projects in cities with less than 2 million population
- 46% of projects in cities with over 2 million population
- 34% over 5 million population

- < 1 million

- 1-2 million

- 2-5 million

- > 5 million

**Projects by Population Size**

## ...For a Variety of Transit Modes

- ...For a Variety of Transit Modes

- 50 percent of evaluated projects are light rail
- About 20 percent are commuter rail
- 15 percent are heavy rail projects
- 3 bus rapid transit and one monorail project

- Light rail

- Commuter Rail

- Heavy Rail

- Monorail

- Bus Rapid Transit

## Communities Want New Transit for Many Reasons

- Ease congestion in major travel corridors
- Connect people to jobs
- Support community economic and housing development goals
- Protect air quality
- Create more travel choices

## FTA Ensures that Projects Deliver Value for Taxpayers 

- Maximize transportation and economic benefits of Federal investments
- Ensure every project delivers ridership results
- Ensure that project costs and schedules are realistic
*Maintain Program Integrity*
*and *
*Good Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars*

## FTA’s Evaluation and Rating Process Among Most Rigorous in Government

- FTA evaluates and rates proposed projects annually for New Starts Report and at critical stages of project development
- Congress established a multiple measure approach to project evaluation
- 3 Finance factors
- Proposed State and local share
- Capital finance plan
- Operating finance plan
- 2 Project Justification factors
- Cost-effectiveness (cost per hour of travel time benefits)
- Land use

## Larger Investments Must Produce More Benefits 

## New Starts is a Highly Competitive Program

- Only about 15 percent of 287 projects authorized in TEA-21 have made it to the finish line thus far
- Of 27 projects evaluated for this New Starts Report
- 2 Highly Recommended
- 12 Recommended
- 8 Not Recommended
- 5 Not Rated

## Evaluation Results – 27 Projects

**Highly Recommended (2)**
- New York, LIRR East Side Access Comm. Rail*
- New York, Second Ave Subway HRT**
**Recommended (12)**
- Phoenix, AZ, Central Phoenix/East Valley LRT*
- Charlotte, NC, South Corridor LRT*
- Pittsburgh, PA, North Shore Connector LRT*
- Washington Co, OR, Wilsonville to Beaverton Commuter Rail**
- San Diego, CA, Mid-Coast Extension LRT**
- San Francisco, CA, Central Subway HRT
- Denver, CO, West Corridor LRT**
- Boston, MA, Silver Line Phase III HRT
- Portland, OR, South Corridor LRT
- Dallas, TX, Northwest/Southeast MOS LRT**
- Salt Lake City, UT, Weber County to SLC Commuter Rail**
- Northern Virginia, VA, Dulles Corridor Extension to Wiehle Ave, HRT (PE)

**Not Recommended (8)**
- Las Vegas, NV, Resort Corridor Downtown Monorail Extension
- Santa Clara, CA, Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Corridor
- Fort Collins, CO, Mason Transportation Corridor
- Hartford, CT, New Britain- Hartford Busway
- Tampa Bay, FL, Tampa Bay Regional Rail
- New Orleans, LA, Desire Streetcar Line
- Minneapolis, MN, Northstar Commuter Rail
- Philadelphia, PA, Schuylkill Valley MetroRail
**Not Rated (5)**
- Raleigh, NC, Raleigh-Durham Regional Rail
- Los Angeles, CA, Exposition Corridor LRT
- Orange Co, CA, CenterLine LRT
- Miami, FL, North Corridor Metrorail Extension
- Norfolk, VA, Norfolk LRT

- *Anticipated FFGA/funding recommendation
- ** Among 6 projects that may be recommended for funding

## FY 06 Budget Proposes Funding for  16 Current and up to 10 New Projects

- $635 Million for 16 Existing Full Funding Grant Agreements
- $590 Million for 4 Anticipated Full Funding Grant Agreements
- $158 Million for up to 6 additional projects
- Have received a “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” rating
- Are currently in final design or are expected to be in final design by early 2005

## 10 New Projects Proposed for Funding are...Located in Every Region

## ...In Areas with High Population and Employment Growth Rates

- U.S. Census National Population Growth Rate Forecast

- Northeast

- West

- South

## ...For A Variety of Transit Modes 

- 6 Light Rail Projects
- Phoenix, AZ, (FFGA)
- Charlotte, NC, (FFGA)
- Pittsburgh, PA, North Shore Connector (FFGA)
- San Diego, CA, Mid-Coast Corridor
- Denver, CO, West Corridor
- Dallas, TX, Northwest/Southeast MOS
- 3 Commuter Rail Projects
- New York, NY, LIRR Eastside Access (FFGA)
- Washington County, OR, Wilsonville-Beaverton Commuter Rail
- Salt Lake City, UT, Weber County to Salt Lake Commuter Rail
- 1 Heavy Rail (Subway) Project
- New York, NY, Second Avenue Subway MOS