Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program, 4281-4284 [E9-1258]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 14 (Friday, January 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4281-4284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1258]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability: Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in 
Parks Program.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits proposals to compete for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2009 funds through the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program 
(Transit in Parks Program), formerly the Alternative Transportation in 
Parks and Public Lands program (ATPPL), administered by the Federal 
Transit Administration (FTA) in partnership with the Department of the 
Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. 
The purpose of the program is to enhance the protection of national 
parks and Federal lands, and increase the enjoyment of visitors' 
experience. The program funds capital and planning expenses for 
alternative transportation systems such as buses and trams in 
federally-managed parks and public lands. Federal land management 
agencies, as well as State, tribal and local governments acting with 
the consent of a Federal land management agency are eligible to apply. 
DOI, after consultation with and in cooperation with FTA, will 
determine the final selection and funding of projects.

DATES: Complete proposals must be received by 12 midnight EST on 
February 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Project proposals must be submitted to FTA. Applicants are 
encouraged to submit proposals through the government-wide electronic 
grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov. Click on ``Find Grant 
Opportunities,'' then on ``Basic Search,'' and enter Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in Parks Program as the keyword. Submissions will also be 
accepted by e-mail, mail, or fax to: Vanessa Williams, Office of 
Program Management, FTA, 202-366-2053, fax: 202-366-7951, e-mail: 
SarbanesProgram@dot.gov, mail: 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.; E44-417; 
Washington, DC 20590. The required project proposal template is 
available at grants.gov and on the program Web site at https://
www.fta.dot.gov/Transit_in_Parks_Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Vanessa Williams, Office of Program 
Management, FTA, 202-366-2053, e-mail: vanessa.williams@dot.gov. 
Applicants may also contact the following Transit in Parks Program 
points of contact at the Federal land management agencies:
     National Park Service: Mark H Hartsoe, Mark_H_
Hartsoe@nps.gov; tel: 202-513-7025, fax: 202-371-6675, mail: 1849 C 
Street, NW. (MS2420); Washington, DC 20240-0001.
     Fish and Wildlife Service: Nathan Caldwell, nathan_
caldwell@fws.gov, tel: 703-358-2205, fax: 703-358-2517, mail: 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, Room 634; Arlington, VA 22203.
     Forest Service: Ellen LaFayette, elafayette@fs.fed.us, 
tel: 703-605-4509, cell: 703-472-2456, fax: 703-605-1542, mail: 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-1101. FedEx: USDA Forest 
Service, Engineering Suite RPC 500, 1601 N. Kent Street, Arlington, VA 
22209.
     Bureau of Land Management: Linda Force, linda_
force@blm.gov, tel: 202-452-5110, fax: 202-452-5046, mail: 1849 C 
Street, NW.; Washington, DC 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Table of Contents
I. General Program Information
II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals
III. Proposal Review, Selection, and Notification
IV. Additional Program Information

I. General Program Information

A. Authority

    Section 3021 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users of 2005 (SAFETEA-LU), as 
amended established the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program 
(Transit in Parks Program) (49 U.S.C. 5320). SAFETEA-LU authorized 
$96.9 million in funding for the program for FYs 2006 through 2009. 
SAFETEA-LU authorized $26.9 million for FY 2009. Availability of 
funding is subject to congressional appropriations, which have not yet 
been finalized for FY 2009. No one project may receive more than 25 
percent of available funds.

B. Background

    Congestion in and around parks and public lands causes traffic 
delays and noise and air pollution that substantially detract from the 
visitor's experience and the protection of natural resources. In August 
2001, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOI published a 
comprehensive study of alternative transportation needs in national 
parks and related Federal lands. The study identified significant 
alternative transportation needs at sites managed by the National Park 
Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service. Additionally, a supplement to this report identified Forest 
Service sites that would benefit from such services.
    Section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 5320) addresses these needs 
by establishing a new program to fund alternative transportation 
projects in national parks and other Federal lands. The goals of the 
program are to:
     Conserve natural, historical, and cultural resources;
     Reduce congestion and pollution;
     Improve visitor mobility and accessibility;
     Enhance visitor experience; and
     Ensure access to all, including persons with disabilities.

C. Eligible Applicants

    (1) Federal land management agencies that manage an eligible area, 
including but not limited to the National Park Service, the Fish and 
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, 
and the Bureau of Reclamation; and
    (2) State, tribal and local governments with jurisdiction over land 
in the vicinity of an eligible area, acting with the consent of a 
Federal land management agency, alone or in partnership with a Federal 
land management agency or other governmental or non-governmental 
participant. If the applicant is a State, tribal, or local government, 
a letter from the unit(s) of the Federal land management agency or 
agencies affected expressing support for the project should be 
submitted with the project proposal.

    Note: An eligible area is any federally owned or managed park, 
refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public, 
including a unit of the National Park System, a unit of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System, a recreational area managed

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by the Bureau of Land Management, a recreational area managed by the 
Bureau of Reclamation, and a unit of the National Forest System.

D. Eligible Expenses

    SAFETEA-LU defines alternative transportation as ``transportation 
by bus, rail, or any other publicly or privately owned conveyance that 
provides to the public general or special service on a regular basis, 
including sightseeing service. Such term also includes a non-motorized 
transportation system (including the provision of facilities for 
pedestrians, bicycles, and non-motorized watercraft).''
    A qualified project is a planning or capital project in or in the 
vicinity of a Federally-owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational 
area that is open to the general public and meets the goals of the 
program. Operating expenses are not eligible under the program. A 
project proposal may include up to 15 percent for project 
administration, contingency, and oversight. As specified in 49 U.S.C. 
5320(b)(5), the following types of projects are eligible:
Planning
    1. Activities to comply with metropolitan and statewide planning 
provisions. (49 U.S.C. 5320(b)(5)(A) referencing 49 U.S.C. 5303, 5304, 
5305).
    2. Activities include planning studies for an alternative 
transportation system including evaluation of no-build and all other 
reasonable alternatives, traffic studies, visitor utilization studies, 
transportation analysis, feasibility studies, and environmental 
studies.
Capital
    1. General Capital Expenses for Alternative Transportation System 
Projects:
    a. Eligible capital projects include all aspects of ``acquiring, 
constructing, supervising, or inspecting equipment or a facility for 
use in public transportation, expenses incidental to the acquisition or 
construction (including designing, engineering, location surveying, 
mapping, and acquiring rights-of-way), payments for the capital 
portions of rail trackage rights agreements, transit-related 
intelligent transportation systems, relocation assistance, acquiring 
replacement housing sites, and acquiring, constructing, relocating, and 
rehabilitating replacement housing;''
    b. Capital projects may include those projects operated by an 
outside entity, such as a public transportation agency, state or local 
government, private company engaged in public transportation, or 
private non-profit organization; and,
    c. Projects may also include the deployment/commercialization of 
alternative transportation vehicles that introduce innovative 
technologies or methods.
    2. ``Fixed Guideway'' and Bus Projects:
    a. The SAFETEA-LU legislation includes language allowing 
eligibility of ``fixed guideway'' projects. These are defined as those 
transportation projects that run on a dedicated right of way, like a 
light rail, trolley, bus rapid transit, or any type of ferry system. 
For these types of projects, eligible projects can include:
    i. Development of a new fixed guideway project;
    ii. Rehabilitation or modernization of existing fixed guideway 
systems; and,
    iii. Expansion of existing systems.
    b. For bus or shuttle projects, eligible projects can include:
    i. Purchase of buses and related equipment;
    ii. Replacement of buses and related equipment;
    iii. Rehabilitation of buses and related equipment;
    iv. Construction of bus-related facilities such as bus shelters; 
and,
    v. Purchase of rolling stock that incorporates clean fuel 
technology or the replacement of buses of a type in use on August 10, 
2005, with clean fuel vehicles.
    3. The Transit in Parks Program specifically includes these other 
eligible capital projects:
    a. The capital costs of coordinating Federal land management agency 
public transportation systems with other public transportation systems.
    b. Non-motorized transportation systems (including the provision of 
facilities for pedestrians, bicycles and non-motorized watercraft).
    c. Water-borne access systems within or in the vicinity of an 
eligible area as appropriate and consistent with 49 U.S.C. 5320.
    d. Any other alternative transportation project that
    i. Enhances the environment;
    ii. Prevents or mitigates an adverse impact on a natural resource;
    iii. Improves Federal land management agency resource management;
    iv. Improves visitor mobility and accessibility and the visitor 
experience;
    v. Reduces congestion and pollution (including noise pollution and 
visual pollution); or
    vi. Conserves a natural, historical, or cultural resource 
(excluding rehabilitation or restoration of a non-transportation 
facility).
    In order to be considered for funding, a project must consist of 
one or more of the eligible activities listed above, meet the 
definition of alternative transportation, and contribute to the goals 
of the program.
Lease vs. Purchase
    The capital cost of leasing vehicles is an eligible expense under 
the program. For vehicle acquisition projects, sponsors should compare 
the cost-effectiveness of leasing versus purchasing vehicles. Leasing 
may be particularly cost effective in circumstances in which transit 
service is only needed during a peak visitation period that lasts only 
a few months. In these cases, leasing a vehicle for a few months during 
the year may be less expensive than purchasing a vehicle only used for 
a few months during the year. An award can cover the capital cost of 
leasing vehicles but not the cost of operations, such as fuel or 
driver's salary.
    Project sponsors should also compare the cost effectiveness of 
providing service versus contracting for service. The capital portion 
of contracted service is an eligible capital expense under the program. 
For example, if a public land agency contracts with a private bus 
company to provide shuttle service with privately owned buses, the 
portion of the contract that covers the capital expense of the buses is 
an eligible expense under the Transit in Parks Program. Operating 
expenses are not eligible under the program. Project sponsors will be 
asked to compare the cost-effectiveness of their preferred option to 
other alternatives in the financial sustainability portion of the 
proposal.

E. Proposal Evaluation Criteria and Other Considerations

    It is anticipated that the demand for financial assistance through 
the Transit in Parks Program will significantly exceed the funds 
available, and thus the selection process will be highly competitive. 
Project proposals will be evaluated based on how well the proposed 
project would meet the goals of the program identified in the 
legislation and in section I B of this notice. The criteria below, 
which are consistent with the considerations identified in 49 U.S.C. 
5320(g)(2), aid evaluators in determining how well projects would meet 
these goals. The application template contains specific questions 
related to each of these criteria to guide the applicant in justifying 
the project. Proposed capital projects will be evaluated based on the 
following criteria:

[[Page 4283]]

     Demonstration of Need:
     [cir] Visitor mobility and experience current or anticipated 
problem; and
     [cir] Environmental current or anticipated problem.
     Visitor Mobility and Experience Benefits of Project:
     [cir] Reduced traffic congestion;
     [cir] Enhanced visitor mobility, accessibility, and safety; and
     [cir] Improved visitor education, recreation, and health benefits.
     Environmental Benefits of Project:
     [cir] Protection of sensitive natural, cultural, and historic 
resources; and
     [cir] Reduced pollution (air, noise, visual).
     Financial Sustainability and Operational Efficiency:
     [cir] Effectiveness in meeting management goals;
     [cir] Realistic financial plan;
     [cir] Cost effectiveness; and
     [cir] Partnering, funding from other sources, innovative 
financing.
    Proposed planning projects will be evaluated based on the following 
criteria:
     Demonstration of Need:
     [cir] Visitor mobility and experience current or anticipated 
problem; and
     [cir] Environmental current or anticipated problem.
     Methodology for Assessing Visitor Mobility and Experience 
Benefits of Project:
     [cir] Reduced traffic congestion;
     [cir] Enhanced visitor mobility, accessibility, and safety; and
     [cir] Improved visitor education, recreation, and health benefits.
     Methodology for Assessing Environmental Benefits of 
Project:
     [cir] Protection of sensitive natural, cultural, and historical 
Resources; and
     [cir] Reduced pollution (air, noise, visual).
     Methodology for Assessing Operational Efficiency and 
Financial Sustainability of Alternatives:
     [cir] Effectiveness in meeting management goals;
     [cir] Realistic financial plan;
     [cir] Cost effectiveness; and
     [cir] Partnering, funding from other sources.
    A special note on non-motorized transportation systems: While non-
motorized systems, such as trails, are eligible under the program, not 
all non-motorized systems will meet the goals of the program needed to 
be considered for funding. Like motorized systems, in order to be 
considered for funding, non-motorized systems must reduce or mitigate 
the number of auto trips by providing an alternative to travel by 
private auto. In addition, non-motorized systems must provide a high 
degree of connectivity within a transportation system. Finally, they 
should improve safety for motorized and non-motorized transportation 
system users.
    Additional consideration will be given to projects based upon 
geographic diversity, balance between urban and rural projects, and 
balance in size of projects.
    The program of projects may also be balanced by type of project, as 
categorized below, to best show accomplishments from the program.
     New alternative transportation systems--to show new 
systems made possible by this new program.
     Expansion or enhancement of an existing alternative 
transportation system--to demonstrate improvements and expansions 
enabled by the program.
     Rehabilitation or replacement of vehicles or facilities of 
existing alternative transportation systems--to support and sustain 
existing meritorious systems into the future.
     Planning studies--to prepare for new systems that can be 
funded in future years.

II. Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Proposals

    Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals through the Federal 
government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov. 
Click on ``Find Grant Opportunities,'' then on ``Basic Search,'' and 
enter Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program as the keyword. 
Submissions will also be accepted by e-mail, mail, or fax to the 
Federal Transit Administration using the contact information found in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The required project proposal 
template as well as guidance on completing a proposal can be found on 
grants.gov and on the program Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/
Transit in Parks Program. There are separate proposal templates for 
planning and capital (``implementation'') projects. Project proposals 
must adhere to the page limits listed on the proposal templates.
    A ``Webinar''-style workshop to provide information on the program 
and guidance on how to apply will be held on February 4, 2009 EST. 
Check the Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/Transit in Parks Program 
for more details. If you do not have adequate Internet access you may 
request hard copies of the Webinar presentations and information on how 
to phone-in to the Webinar from Vanessa Williams at 202-366-2053, e-
mail: vanessa.williams@dot.gov.
    Applicants must reapply each year; however an applicant may also 
propose a project that would expend money in multiple years even though 
the award is from one year's worth of appropriated Transit in Parks 
Program funds. The project would, however, need to be ready to begin 
and need to be completed in a reasonable period of time, as evaluated 
on a case by case basis. In sum, the period of performance of the award 
is separate from the year of funds of the award.

III. Selection and Notification

    FTA will announce project selections in the Federal Register in the 
latter part of FY 2009. DOI will notify each Federal land management 
agency of projects awarded for sites under the agency's jurisdiction. 
The Federal Register will include the list of all selected projects and 
funding levels.

IV. Additional Program Information

A. Funds Administration

    Once proposals have been reviewed and projects have been selected, 
FTA will award funds to the lead project sponsor to implement the 
project. These funds will be administered according to Federal 
requirements as well as the appropriate policies, guidelines and rules 
of the pertinent agencies.
    For projects directly administered by a Federal land management 
agency, these funds will be administered by an interagency agreement 
between FTA and the respective agency. For programs administered by a 
State, tribal, or local governmental authority, these funds will be 
administered through a grant administered by FTA.

B. Program Requirements and Oversight

    The requirements for recipients of funding through the program can 
be found at https://www.fta.dot.gov/Transit in Parks Program under 
``Requirements for Recipients of Funding.'' This document also 
describes the oversight FTA will provide for this program.

C. Performance Measures

    In order to allow FTA to compute aggregate program performance 
measures as required by the President's Management Agenda, FTA requests 
that all recipients of funding for capital projects under the Transit 
in Parks Program submit the following information annually:
     Annual visitation to the land unit;
     Annual number of persons who use the alternative 
transportation system (ridership/usage);
     An estimate of the number of vehicle trips mitigated based 
on alternative transportation system usage and the typical number of 
passengers per vehicle;
     Cost per passenger; and,

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     A note of any special services offered for those systems 
with higher costs per passenger but more amenities.
    Federal land management agencies should send this information as 
part of their fourth quarter report. Examples can be found on the 
program Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/Transit in Parks Program.
    All planning documents that result from Transit in Parks Program 
funding must be submitted to FTA within thirty days. These should also 
be submitted to Vanessa Williams.

D. Technical Assistance

    FTA has established a technical assistance program to assist 
participants in planning, implementing, and evaluating alternative 
transportation projects. As part of FTA's technical assistance efforts, 
FTA is in the process of establishing a National Alternative 
Transportation Technical Assistance Center which will carry out 
multiple planning, research and technical assistance initiatives. FTA 
anticipates that the Center will be operational by March 2009. For more 
information regarding the Technical Assistance Center, contact Julie 
Atkins, Office of Planning and Environment, at 202-366-4491, e-mail: 
Julie.atkins@dot.gov.
    In addition, a limited number of technical assistance visits are 
available to assist potential project sponsors in the initial stages of 
planning. Project sponsors or potential project sponsors may contact 
the relevant Federal land management agency headquarters contact (see 
ADDRESSES section) to request technical assistance.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 14th day of January, 2009.
Sherry E. Little,
Acting Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E9-1258 Filed 1-22-09; 8:45 am]
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