Federal Transit Administration 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the calendar year 2021 drug and alcohol random testing rates for employers subject to 49 CFR part 655. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent, and the random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10 percent.

The FTA in cooperation with the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed public transportation improvement project in Camden County, New Jersey is being rescinded.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $6.22 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 funding under the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance #20.500). FTA may award additional funds if they are made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. As required by Federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to support comprehensive planning associated with new fixed guideway and core capacity improvement projects.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore, through the early scoping process of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), proposed light rail transit in the West and Southeast Corridors, now known as the proposed LYNX Silver Line Project (SLP).

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the allocation of $463,848,929 to projects under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (Bus and Bus Facilities Program) and provides administrative guidance on project implementation.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has placed in the docket and on its website guidance in the form of FTA Circular 7050.1B, FTA Guidance on Joint Development. The purpose of the final Circular is to increase flexibility for project sponsors to pursue joint development projects, reduce FTA oversight of joint development agreements negotiated between project sponsors and their partners, streamline FTA's project eligibility review process, and clarify prior guidance in FTA Circular 7050.1A.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) intends to transfer the land portions of 20 parcels (Subject Properties) to the Seattle Office of Housing. Federal public transportation law delegated to the Federal Transit Administrator permits the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration to authorize a recipient of FTA funds to transfer land or a facility to a public body for any public purpose with no further obligation to the Federal Government (the Government) if, among other things, no Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use.

This notice responds to comments received and finalizes proposed changes and clarifications to the National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2019 (ID: FTA-2018-0010).

This notice provides program information and guidance for implementation of the supplemental fiscal year (FY) 2020 apportionments and allocations appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

This notice announces a meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is soliciting proposals under FTA's Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program, to select an entity to administer the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The NADTC will carry out activities to promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options that serve the needs of people with disabilities, seniors, and their caregivers, with a focus on effectively leveraging the program funds of the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula grants and other transit investments. The NADTC provides effective solutions that improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout the country by helping systems remove barriers to transportation services and expanding community transportation mobility options. The FTA intends to fund the NADTC up to $1,900,000, for the first year, subject to availability of funds. The FTA may extend funding for this center for up to five (5) years; however, subsequent funding will depend upon: (1) Future authorizations and appropriations; (2) decisions and program priorities established by the Secretary of Transportation related to the implementation of provisions set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5314; and (3) annual performance reviews.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $5 million in funding, for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program). This notice is a national solicitation for project proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 projects. FTA may fund the program for more or less than the full year appropriation, and may include other funding if available from prior fiscal years toward project proposals received in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This announcement is available on the FTA website at: https:// www.transit.dot.gov. Additionally, a synopsis of the funding opportunity, FTA-2020-007-TR, will be posted in the FIND module of GRANTS.GOV at https://www.grants.gov. The program is located in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 20.509.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the extension of a currently approved information collection: Alternatives Analysis Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the extension of a currently approved information collection: Title VI as it Applies to FTA Grant Programs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the extension of a currently approved information collection: Pre- Award, Post-Delivery Audit Requirements Under Buy America.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $8.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 funds under the Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) Program (CFDA#20.505). Funds will be awarded competitively for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for projects eligible that assist areas of persistent poverty. FTA may award additional funds if they are made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

Federal public transportation law delegated to the Federal Transit Administrator permits the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to authorize a recipient of FTA funds to transfer land or a facility to a public body for any public purpose with no further obligation to the Federal Government (the Government) if, among other things, no Federal agency is interested in acquiring the asset for Federal use. Accordingly, FTA is issuing this Notice to advise Federal agencies that the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation a/k/a Metra (Metra) intends to transfer the land and building located at 16912 and 16901 Paulina Avenue (respectively), Hazel Crest, Illinois (Subject Property) to the Village of Hazel Crest (Village). Metra used the location as a Passenger Assistance Link building and storage facility from 1987 to the present (33 years). Metra has determined it no longer needs the building for public transportation purposes. The Village plans to utilize the Subject Property as a job training center for the community. The Village hopes to partner with another unit of government and/or local college to equip the building with technology equipment and staff it with career development experts who would be dedicated to helping career seekers find employment in the region.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

This notice announces a meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $2,000,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) funds for the redesign of the transit bus operator compartment to improve operator and public safety. Bus operator assaults have been increasing. On July 6, 2015, the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) published report 14-01, ``Reinventing and Mitigating Transit Worker Assaults in the Bus and Rail Transit Industry,'' (14-01 Report) highlighting news articles documenting bus operator assaults. The report recommended incorporating measures such as installing protective barriers and educating the workforce in conflict resolution tactics. This NOFO provides an opportunity to reevaluate the bus operator compartment and develop innovative solutions to the space around the bus operator with the purpose to not just increase safety, but also to improve bus operator efficiency and passenger accessibility. FTA is seeking to fund cooperative agreements to engage in the research and development of new transit bus operator compartment designs in partnership with bus manufacturers, technology vendors, vehicle engineering and design firms, and transit agencies. The major goals of this program are to support a redesign of the bus operator compartment that improves bus operator and public safety, and to improve bus operator access to key vehicle instruments and controls without hindering the accessibility of the bus. Transit agency partners would have an important role to test a promising compartment redesign. This research will apply only to transit buses that are 40 ft. or longer, and almost exclusively used for local, fixed-route public transportation revenue service. An eligible lead applicant and eligible project partners and subrecipients under this program may include, but are not limited to, providers of public transportation; State and local governmental entities; departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, including Federal laboratories; private or non-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and technical and community colleges. This notice solicits competitive proposals to address the objectives described under the Program Description of this notice, provides instructions for submitting proposals, describes criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious proposals for funding, and the process to apply for funding. This announcement is also available at: https:// www.transit.dot.gov/grants. A synopsis of this funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants at https:// www.grants.gov. The funding Opportunity ID is FTA-2020-003-TRI-BCP and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for FTA's Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) is 20.530.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $454.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 funds under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (CFDA#20.526). As required by federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, purchase or lease buses and related equipment, and to rehabilitate, purchase, construct or lease bus-related facilities. Projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses. FTA may award additional funds if they are made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

This notice announces the calendar year 2020 drug and alcohol random testing rates for employer's subject to 49 CFR part 655. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent and the random alcohol rate will remain at 10 percent.

By this notice, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is establishing an Emergency Relief Docket for calendar year 2020, so that grantees and subgrantees affected by a national or regional emergency or disaster may request temporary relief from FTA administrative and statutory requirements.