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[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69201-69203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22524]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities Pilot 
Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Solicitation of Proposals to Participate in the Elderly 
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program.

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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from states that would like 
to use a portion of their Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and 
Individuals with Disabilities Program funds for operating expenses.

DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted to FTA by the close of 
business December 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted electronically to 
[email protected] and [email protected]. The 
subject line of the e-mail should read: Proposal for Section 5310 Pilot 
Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Cheryl Oliver, Office of Program

[[Page 69202]]

Management, (202) 366-2053, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. General Program Information
II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals
III. Proposal Review, Selection, and Notification

I. General Program Information

A. Authority

    The Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot 
Program is authorized under Section 3012(b) of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU). This section establishes a pilot program allowing seven 
states to use not more than 33 percent of their FY 2006-2009 Section 
5310 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program 
annual apportionments for operating costs associated with 
transportation projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the 
special needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. 
Four of the seven states are named in SAFETEA-LU: Wisconsin, Alaska, 
Minnesota, and Oregon. Three other states will be selected to 
participate in the pilot program from among the proposals submitted in 
response to this solicitation. All states wishing to use not more than 
33 percent of their annual Section 5310 apportionments, including those 
states named in the legislation, must submit a proposal.

B. Background

    Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities 
Program funds have historically been available only for capital 
purposes. Funds have traditionally been used for purchasing vehicles, 
although some states use Section 5310 funds for contracted service, 
eligible as a capital expense under the program in order to assess the 
feasibility of using Section 5310 for operating purposes. The Elderly 
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program allows 
operating expenses to be funded on a limited basis. Seven states may 
use a portion of their FY 2006-2009 Section 5310 annual apportionments 
for operating expenses.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Each of the four states named in SAFETEA-LU (Wisconsin, Alaska, 
Minnesota, and Oregon) and any other states interested in using not 
more than 33 percent of their Section 5310 funds for operating must 
submit a proposal. Any of the states named in the legislation that 
choose to use none of their Section 5310 funds for operating purposes 
need only submit a statement to that effect by the proposal deadline.

D. Eligible Expenses

    Operating expenses are considered those costs directly related to 
system operations, such as fuel, oil, driver and dispatcher salaries 
and fringe benefits, and licenses. Net operating expenses are those 
expenses that remain after operating revenues are subtracted from 
eligible operating expenses. At a minimum, operating revenues must 
include fare-box revenues. States may further define what constitutes 
operating revenues. Fare-box revenues include fares paid by riders who 
are later reimbursed by a human service agency, or other user-side 
subsidy arrangements.

E. Matching Requirements

    The Federal share for net operating expenses may not exceed 50 
percent. All local and state revenues generally are eligible for 
inclusion in the local match with the exception of farebox and farebox-
related revenues. Federal funds (other than Department of 
Transportation funds, with the exception of Federal lands highway 
funds) that are eligible to be expended for transportation may be used 
to match Section 5310 funds. Payments made directly to the transit 
provider by human service agencies may also be used as match.

F. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals from the states identified in SAFETEA-LU (Wisconsin, 
Alaska, Minnesota, and Oregon), as well as all other states interested 
in using not more than 33 percent or less of their funds for operating 
expenses, will be evaluated on the degree to which the state has 
undertaken initiatives that advance coordination, such as:
     Conducted a statewide assessment of current needs, 
resources and services related to human service transportation using 
the United We Ride Framework for Action.
     Developed action plans that improve coordination of human 
service transportation for individuals with disabilities, older adults, 
and persons with lower incomes.
     Implemented a statewide interagency transit pass program.
     Conducted statewide seminars/conferences to establish 
statewide dialogue that leads to effective action steps for future 
coordination of human service transportation issues.
     Developed a statewide regionalized coordination system.
     Replicated a successful model in one or more communities 
across the state (i.e., transit pass program; volunteer driver; travel 
training; etc.).
     Integrated technology to address the needs of coordination 
on human service transportation, including real time eligibility, 
accountability, billing, and reporting.
     Developed and tested a mobility management strategy.

G. Program Requirements

    Grants made for projects that include operating expenses are 
subject to Federal requirements that apply to all grants made under the 
Section 5310 program, including the new requirement that all projects 
funded under the program were derived from a locally developed, 
coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan; and the 
plan was developed through a process that included representatives of 
public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human services 
providers with participation by the public. This planning requirement 
is not in effect for the Section 5310 Elderly Individuals and 
Individuals with Disabilities Program until FY 2007. SAFETEA-LU 
includes this provision under Section 3012(b) as well, but does not 
specify the year in which this requirement goes into effect for the 
Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program. 
Applicants for Section 5310 pilot program funds must therefore meet the 
requirement in FY 2006. In FY 2006, applicants can meet the requirement 
by certifying that projects funded that include operating expenses were 
the result of a consultative process that included public 
participation. In the coming months, FTA will provide further guidance 
on the local planning process required under the Section 5310 Elderly 
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program and the Elderly 
Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Pilot Program in FY 2007.
    Successful applicants allowed to using a portion of their Section 
5310 funds for operating expenses will be expected to collect data 
necessary to support the report to Congress that FTA must submit within 
two years of enactment of SAFETEA-LU. FTA will issue more guidance in 
the coming months on the types of data to be collected, as well as the 
method to be used for transmitting the data to FTA, to the states 
participating in the pilot. The

[[Page 69203]]

data will be used to evaluate the degree to which funds are used for 
operating purposes that:
    (1) Subsidize existing paratransit service provided to meet the 
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA);
    (2) Provide services to persons with disabilities that exceed those 
required by the ADA;
    (3) Provide services to individuals with disabilities that exceed 
those required by the ADA to the detriment of other eligible projects;
    (4) Assist elderly individuals;
    (5) Assist persons with disabilities;
    (6) Serve a wider range of elderly individuals, individuals with 
low-incomes, and individuals with disabilities;
    (7) Improve services to elderly individuals and individuals with 
disabilities;
    (8) Expand the range of transportation alternatives available to 
elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities; and
    (9) Facilitate or discourage coordination with or integration of 
other funding sources.

II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals

    FTA is conducting a national solicitation for proposals from states 
wishing to participate in the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with 
Disabilities Pilot Program. FTA will grant authority for three states, 
in addition to those named in SAFETEA-LU, to use not more than 33 
percent of their annual Section 5310 apportionment for operating 
expenses related to the program in FY 2006 through FY 2009. States will 
be selected to participate on a competitive basis. Proposals should be 
submitted electronically to: [email protected] and 
[email protected]. Proposals must be received by FTA no 
later than December 14, 2005. The state agency designated by the 
Governor to administer the Section 5310 program will submit a proposal 
that includes:

1. Applicant Information

    Basic identifying information, including:
    a. Agency
    b. Contact information for notification of project selection: 
Contact name, address, fax and phone number

2. Project Information

    Every application must:
    a. Provide the proportion of funds that the state intends to use 
for operating expenses (not more than 33 percent) for each year of the 
authorization period (fiscal years 2006-2009);
    b. Document sources of funds likely to be used to match FTA funds 
used for operating purposes;
    c. Include a narrative portion (not more than 8 pages, double-
spaced) that addresses the state's achievements in advancing 
coordination of public transit-human services transportation, as 
described in paragraph F, Proposal Criteria, and how the state expects 
to further enhance coordinated transportation services as a result of 
using some of their Section 5310 funds for operating expenses.

III. Proposal Review, Selection, and Notification

    FTA will evaluate proposals based on the degree to which a state 
has advanced coordination of public transit-human services 
transportation and the degree to which they believe using a portion of 
their Section 5310 funds for operating expenses will further enhance 
coordination efforts.
    FTA expects to announce states selected to participate in the pilot 
program in the Federal Register Notice of FTA Fiscal Year 2006 
Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information, or in a 
subsequent notice. The seven states selected will be eligible to 
participate in the pilot program through FY 2009.

    Issued on: November 7, 2005.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-22524 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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