Department of Transportation — Federal Transit Administration

Program Description

Mission

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit agencies. Since most brownfields are located in urbanized and industrial areas where transit is usually a viable transportation option, FTA programs can play a role in local redevelopment efforts. Connecting the redevelopment site into the regional transit network can expand its potential uses and improve its marketability. While the program does not target financing toward brownfields, funding for cleanup is available through the federal transit program, as long as the cleanup is a necessary part of a transit project. FTA will share best practices and offer technical assistance and training to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), along with states and local governments.

Brownfields Connections

Provides grants for transit capital and maintenance projects — targeted to public transit agencies in urban and non-urban areas.
Offers discretionary capital grants for new fixed guideway transit lines, bus-related facilities and new buses and rail vehicles — targeted to public transit agencies, primarily in larger metropolitan areas.
Funds transportation and land-use planning — targeted to metropolitan planning organizations, through the states.
Promotes delivery of safe and effective public and private transportation in non-urban areas — targeted to non-urban local governments, through the states.

Resources

Financial Assistance

Urbanized Area Formula Grants

These grants provide federal assistance for transit and related planning, capital and operating assistance within urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 people or more.

Eligibility Requirements: Funds are apportioned by formula. The designated recipient may apply for all grants in the urbanized area or distribute the funds to other eligible recipients.

Limitations: The required matching ratio is 80 percent federal share and 20 percent local share for capital and planning projects.

Availability: Congress appropriates roughly $3,600,000,000 annually for this program.

Uses/Applications: Grants and technical resources can be used for brownfields related activities including:

Bus and rail system replacements

Maintenance of equipment

Facility construction

System modernization and rehabilitation

Website: www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/factsp1.htm

Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grants

These grants provide capital and operating assistance through the states to transit operators in small urban and rural areas with populations of less than 50,000 people.

Eligibility Requirements: Grants are awarded to states.

Availability: Congress appropriates approximately $240,000,000 annually for this program.

Website: www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/factsp3.htm

Discretionary Capital Program

This program provides grants to assist in financing capital projects that will benefit the country’s transit systems.

Availability: Congress appropriates approximately $3,400,000,000 annually for this program of which approximately 40 percent goes to new fixed guideway projects, 40 percent to modernization of older fixed guideways and 20 percent to buses and bus facilities.

Uses/Applications: Grants and technical resources can be used for brownfields related activities including:

Bus facilities

Modernization or construction of fixed guideway systems

Metropolitan Planning Program (Section 5303)

These funds are apportioned to states and local public bodies on the basis of urban area population to support various types of planning.

Eligibility Requirements: A transportation project must be included in the metropolitan transportation plan. States then allocate assistance to the MPOs.

Availability: Congress appropriates approximately $60,000,000 annually for metropolitan planning through the FTA program.

Uses/Applications: Grants and technical resources can be used for brownfields related activities including:

Studies relating to management, operations, capital requirements, innovative financing opportunities and economic feasibility of transit projects

Evaluation of previously funded projects

Development of long-range and short-range transportation plans and transportation improvement programs

Analyses of social, economic and environmental factors related to travel and transportation

Air quality planning and conformity planning

Public involvement in the transit/transportation planning process

Multimodal facilities planning

Joint development planning

Computer hardware and software needed to support planning work.

Statewide Planning Program, Section 5313(b)

This program provides financial assistance to states for statewide planning. The supported list of eligible planning activities is nearly identical to that of the Section 5303 program, with the products being a statewide plan and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP).

Website: www.fta.dot.gov/932_ENG_HTML.htm

SNAPSHOT
Wellston, Missouri

The City of Wellston is an aging, industrial municipality that has experienced tremendous decline and disinvestment over the past few decades. As an FTA Livable Communities Initiative demonstration project, the City used FTA funds for a Metrolink Station enhancement project which led to the creation of a center for mobility, child care and educational facilities, a police substation, and employment opportunities.
- Taken from Building Livable Communites (PDF)

Additional Information

Antoinette Quagliata LEED AP
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Planning and Environment
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
East Building - Room E45-339
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4265
antoinette.quagliata@dot.gov

Kimberly Sledge
Office of Program Management
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
202-366-0204
Kimberly.Sledge@dot.gov

Charles Goodman
Office of Planning and Environment
202-366-1944
Charles.Goodman@fta.dot.gov

Main Website: http://www.fta.dot.gov

Region 3 | Mid-Atlantic Cleanup | Mid-Atlantic Brownfields & Land Revitalization