OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Description of 5307, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5316 and 5317 Programs
Section 5307 – Urbanized Area Formula Grants
This program makes Federal resources available to urbanized areas and to Governors for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas and for transportation related planning. An urbanized area is an incorporated area with a population of 50,000 or more that is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Eligible purposes include planning, engineering design and evaluation of transit projects and other technical transportation-related studies; capital investments in bus and bus-related activities such as replacement of buses, overhaul of buses, rebuilding of buses, crime prevention and security equipment and construction of maintenance and passenger facilities; and capital investments in new and existing fixed guideway systems including rolling stock, overhaul and rebuilding of vehicles, track, signals, communications, and computer hardware and software. All preventive maintenance and some Americans with Disabilities Act complementary paratransit service costs are considered capital costs.
For urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 and over, funds are apportioned and flow directly to a designated recipient selected locally to apply for and receive Federal funds. For urbanized areas under 200,000 in population, the funds are apportioned to the Governor of each state for distribution. Kentucky has the option of 5307 grants between 50,000-199,999 that may apply directly to FTA or via the KYTC/OTD.
Section 5309 – Capital Investment Program
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Program funds provide assistance for bus and bus related facilities, establishment of new rail transit projects, and improvement and maintenance of existing rail transit and other fixed guide-way systems. Bus/Bus Facilities includes bus purchases and improvements to bus facilities. Funds are allocated to recipients through a Congressional earmark.
The FTA administers the 5309 program. Applicants for Bus and Bus Facilities funding request appropriation earmarks from their Congressional representatives. If projects receive funding earmarks through legislative appropriation in the federal transportation funding bill, recipients are eligible to
submit applications for 5309 funds to FTA/KYTC-OTD. FTA requires an 80/20 Federal/Local match for this program.
KYTC/OTD has historically utilized 5309 funds for a local vehicle replacement program for those vehicles that have reached or exceeded useful life.
Section 5310 – Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program
The 5310 program assist private or designated public nonprofit agencies in meeting the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities. The Office of Transportation Delivery, through the Section 5310 program, provides funds to private nonprofit entities, public bodies approved by the state to coordinate transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities, or public bodies which certify to the Governor that no private nonprofit entity or association is readily available in an area to provide the service.
Federal financial assistance under the Section 5310 program is limited to participation in the cost of capital equipment (rolling stock), cost for purchase of transportation service contract(s), mobility management, and state-level administrative costs to administer the program.
The goal of the Section 5310 program is to improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities throughout the state and to enhance coordination of federally assisted programs and services in order to encourage the most efficient use of federal resources and achieve the national goal of improved mobility of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. In Kentucky both private and public nonprofit agencies are encouraged to coordinate transportation services with agencies that provide transportation services to the public. KYTC/OTD is the designated recipient for urban and rural areas of the State. A fully Coordinated Plan is required.
Section 5311 – Nonurbanized (Rural) Area Program
The 5311 program is intended to provide financial assistance for the support of public transportation services, which are open to the public on an equal basis in areas outside of an urbanized area of less than 50,000 population.
The 5311 funds can be used for the costs of transit planning activities, transit operations and purchase of capital equipment or facilities to aid in provision of transit services in rural and small urban areas, as well as provide funds for state-level administration. Federal regulation requires that 15% percentage of these funds be reserved each year to support an Intercity Bus Program, unless the Governor of a state certifies that intercity bus needs in the state are being met.
Through the Section 5311 Program, the Division of Public Transit provides administrative, operating and capital assistance to public transportation projects in nonurbanized (rural) areas. The program goals are:
; Assist in meeting the transportation needs of transit-dependent people and
to enhance access to health care, shopping, education, employment, public
services, and recreation;
; Assist in the maintenance, development, improvement and use of public
transportation systems;
; Encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all federal funds used to
provide passenger transportation in non-urbanized areas through the
coordination of programs and services;
; Assist in the development and support of intercity bus transportation; and
; Provide for the participation of private transportation providers in
nonurbanized transportation to the maximum extent feasible.
Section 5316 – Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
The purpose of JARC Program is to provide financial assistance for projects benefiting low-income individuals to access work and work-related opportunities and to transport residents of urbanized areas and nonurbanized areas, regardless of income, to suburban employment opportunities. KYTC/OTD is the designated recipient of an annual apportionment by formula from FTA for the Section 5316 program in the small urban (50,000 or less than 200,000 in population) and rural areas of the state.
All projects funded with Section 5316 must be derived from a locally developed coordinated public transit-human service transportation plan.
Section 5317 – New Freedom Initiative
The New Freedom Program provides financial assistance for projects that support new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. KYTC/OTD is the designated recipient for an annual apportionment by formula from FTA for Section 5317 programs in the small urban (populations greater than 50,000 and less than 200,000) and rural areas of the state. All projects funded with Section 5317 must be derived from a locally developed coordinated public transit-human service transportation plan.”