[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60168-60176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29777]



[[Page 60167]]

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Part V





Department of Transportation





_______________________________________________________________________



Federal Transit Administration



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Job Access and Reverse Commute Competitive Grants; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 215 / Friday, November 6, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 60168]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Job Access and Reverse Commute Competitive Grants

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds; solicitation for grant 
applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) announces the first round of competitive grants 
under the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program, authorized 
under Section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21). The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program is 
intended to establish a regional approach to job access challenges 
through the establishment of a Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute 
Transportation Plan. Projects derived from this plan support the 
implementation of a variety of transportation services that may be 
needed to connect welfare recipients to jobs and related employment 
activities. All projects funded under the Job Access and Reverse 
Commute grant program must be derived from this regional plan. The Job 
Access and Reverse Commute Program has two major goals: to provide 
transportation services in urban, suburban and rural areas to assist 
welfare recipients and low income individuals access employment 
opportunities, and to increase collaboration among the transportation 
providers, human service agencies, employers, metropolitan planning 
organizations (MPOs), states, and affected communities and individuals.
    While the projects must be planned in coordination with traditional 
transit authorities and transportation planning organizations, other 
interested organizations could take the lead in establishing the 
collaborative planning process or project application. The Job Access 
and Reverse Commute grant program will support projects that are 
implemented by a wide range of transportation providers. One key 
element is making the most efficient use of existing public, nonprofit 
and private transportation service providers.
    A Job Access project is designed to transport welfare recipients 
and low-income individuals in urban, suburban, or rural areas to and 
from jobs and activities related to their employment. Job Access 
projects implement new transportation services or extend existing 
services to fill the gaps that exist in many areas between where 
welfare recipients and low-income persons live and employment 
opportunities. A Reverse Commute Project is designed to transport the 
general public from urban, suburban, and rural areas to suburban 
employment opportunities. Job Access and Reverse Commute grants funded 
under this program may not be used for planning or coordinating 
activities and cannot supplant existing sources of funding.
    Funding for Job Access grants is authorized at $150 million 
annually. $50 million of this amount is guaranteed in fiscal year (FY) 
1999. The guaranteed portion rises by $25 million a year, reaching the 
full authorized $150 million in FY 2003. Funding above the guaranteed 
level depends on congressional appropriations. No more than $10 million 
annually can be used for grants designated as Reverse Commute projects. 
In FY 1999, $75 million is available for the Job Access and Reverse 
Commute grant program. A 50 percent non-DOT match is required. Other 
Federal funds that are eligible to be expended for transportation can 
be used as part of the match. Applicants should submit projects that 
can be implemented quickly. The increasing funding levels provide ample 
opportunity for areas to submit future applications as Regional Job 
Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plans are further developed.
    This announcement describes the conditions under which applications 
will be received for the Job Access and Reverse Commute competitive 
grants program and how FTA will determine which applications it will 
fund. It includes all of the information needed to apply for Job Access 
and Reverse Commute competitive grants.
    This announcement is available on the Internet on the U.S. 
Department of Transportation's FTA website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/
wtw/. The website will also have commonly asked questions and answers. 
FTA will announce final selections on the website and in the Federal 
Register.

DATES: FTA will make funding commitments for the Job Access and Reverse 
Commute program through a two-stage process. Applications must be 
submitted to the appropriate FTA regional office (see Appendix A) by 
the close of business December 31, 1998. After evaluation, those whose 
projects are selected for funding will be required to submit 
supplementary documentation demonstrating compliance with all of FTA's 
Section 5307, ``Urbanized Area Formula Grants'' requirements. FTA will 
announce grant selections in February 1999.
    FTA will accept comments on this notice until November 23, 1998. 
Based on this input, FTA may provide amending and clarifying 
information. At a later date, FTA intends to solicit comments from all 
interested parties to determine if program adjustments are merited in 
future solicitations.

ADDRESSES: Comments on or questions about this Notice can be made at 
FTA's web site http://www.fta.dot.gov/wtw/japc.html or can be sent or 
faxed to the following address: Doug Birnie, Federal Transit 
Administration, Room 6423, 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 
(FAX (202) 366-3765).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional 
Administrator for application specific information and issues (Appendix 
A). For general program information, contact Doug Birnie, Office of 
Research Management, (202) 366-1666, email [email protected]. 
A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Table of Contents

I. General Program Information
II. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application
III. Application Submission
IV. Grant review Process
Appendix A FTA Regional Offices
Appendix B Definitions
Appendix C Sample Project Budget
Appendix D Application Checklist
Appendix E Summary of FTA's Section 5307 Requirements

I. General Program Information

A. Authority

    Section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA-21).

B. Background

    While two-thirds of all new jobs are in the suburbs, three-quarters 
of welfare recipients live in rural areas or in central cities. Even in 
metropolitan areas with extensive transit systems, studies have shown 
that less than half of the jobs are accessible by transit. In 
particular, many entry-level workers have difficulty reaching jobs 
during evening or weekend shifts when transit services are frequently 
diminished or non-existent. Work trips can also be complex, involving 
several destinations including child care providers. The problems are 
equally challenging in rural areas: approximately 40 percent of rural 
counties lack public transit systems.

[[Page 60169]]

    Auto ownership among welfare recipients and low income persons is 
also low. As many as 94 percent of welfare recipients do not own cars 
and nearly 40 percent of workers with annual incomes below $10,000 do 
not commute by car. In 1991, the median price of a new car was 
equivalent to 25 weeks of salary for the average worker and 
considerably more for the low-income worker.
    Transportation is clearly a key barrier to those moving from 
welfare to work. Providing a variety of new or expanded transportation 
options for low-income workers, especially those who are receiving or 
who have recently received welfare benefits, will increase the 
likelihood that those workers will get and retain jobs.

C. Scope

    Improving mobility and shaping America's future by ensuring that 
the transportation system is accessible, integrated, efficient and 
offers flexibility of choices is a key strategic goal of the Department 
of Transportation. Job Access projects provide financial assistance to 
improve mobility for welfare recipients and other low-income people 
through implementing new or expanded transportation activities. Reverse 
Commute projects provide financial assistance to improve mobility to 
suburban employment opportunities for the general public as well as for 
welfare recipients and low income people.

D. Eligible Applicants

    Local agencies and authorities, non-profit organizations and 
designated recipients under the FTA section 5307 program (usually a 
state entity or a regional transit authority) are eligible applicants 
for Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program funds. Local agencies 
and authorities include states, local governments, metropolitan 
planning organizations (MPOs), public transit agencies and tribal 
organizations.
    In urbanized areas with 200,000 population or more, MPOs select the 
applicant(s). In small urbanized areas under 200,000 population and in 
non-urbanized, rural, areas states select the applicant(s). Tribal 
governments must go through the state process that, once selected, can 
choose to be sub-recipients of the state or apply directly to FTA. FTA 
urges MPOs to designate a single recipient, who would submit a 
consolidated application. States are urged to serve as the designated 
recipient for grants to small urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas. 
The selected grant recipient can suballocate funds to other project 
participants.

E. Eligible Projects

1. In general
    Job Access or Reverse Commute projects derived from a Regional Job 
Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan are eligible. Please 
note that grants awarded under the Job Access and Reverse Commute 
program may not be used for planning or coordinating activities. 
However, planning funds made available under the FTA Section 5303 and 
5113(b) programs and the Federal Highway Administration's metropolitan 
and statewide planning funds (PL) and state planning and research funds 
(SPR) can be used to fund welfare to work transportation planning 
activities at a 100 percent Federal share. Other funds, including 
Department of Health and Human Services Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families (TANF) and Department of Labor's Welfare-to-Work (WtW) 
administrative funds, can also be used for planning.
2. Job Access Project
    A Job Access project focused on implementing new or expanded 
transportation services targeted at filling transportation gaps and 
designed to transport welfare recipients and low income individuals to 
and from jobs and other employment-related activities such as child 
care or training. The Job Access Grant Program will focus on financing 
the capital and operating costs of new or expanded transportation 
services providing access to jobs and employment-related services. 
Employment-related support services are services such as child care, 
job readiness, job training, and retention services.
    Localities have wide flexibility in selecting which service 
strategies are appropriate for their region, including but not limited 
to: adding late night and weekend service, providing guaranteed ride 
home service, initiating shuttle service, extending fixed route mass 
transit services, providing demand responsive van service, sponsoring 
ridesharing and carpooling activities, and encouraging bicycling. 
Localities are encouraged to implement innovative approaches to service 
management such as the establishment of regional mobility managers or 
transportation brokerage activities, application of geographic 
information systems (GIS) tools, implementation of intelligent 
transportation systems including customer trip information 
technologies, the integration of automated regional public and human 
service transit information scheduling and dispatch functions, vehicle 
position monitoring systems and electronic fare cards.
    Job Access and Reverse Commute grants also may be made for 
promoting the use of: transit by workers with non-traditional work 
schedules, transit vouchers by appropriate agencies for welfare 
recipients and eligible low-income individuals; or employer-provided 
transportation such as shuttles, ridesharing, carpooling or transit 
pass and benfits under Section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986. Marketing and advertising are examples of promotional activities 
that could be undertaken to increase awareness of these transportation 
options and their benefit to welfare recipients and low-income 
individuals. Other locality-specific actions, strategies and linkages 
that further the program goals, but are not captured in the preceding 
description, also may be eligible.
    Activities such as funding transit passes and construction of child 
care centers and other employment support facilities at transit hubs 
will not be elibible for Job Access grants. Transit-oriented 
construction activities are eligible under FTA's Section 5307, 5309 and 
5311 Formula Grant programs. Transit passes are eligible expenses under 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare-to-Work 
(WtW) programs.
    Programs for private automobile ownership and repair are not 
legally eligible under this grant funding. However, programs supporting 
carpooling and other forms of mass transportation and shared-ride use, 
such as jitneys or special paratransit service, are eligible. In cases 
where vehicle acquisition is part of the program, vehicles must remain 
under the continuing control of the agency receiving the grant.
3. Reverse Commute Project
    A Reverse Commute project facilitates the provision of new or 
expanded public mass transportation services from urban areas, suburban 
and rural areas to suburban work places.
    Reverse Commute services include, but are not limited to 
subsidizing, the costs associated with adding bus, train, car and van 
pooling, van routes, or service; and the purchase or lease by a 
nonprofit organization or public agency of a van or bus dedicated to 
shuttling employees from their residence to a suburban work place and 
return.

F. Funding Availability

    TEA-21 authorizes the Job Access and Reverse Commute program at 
$150 million annually, subject to

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appropriations. The guaranteed funding levels start at $50 million in 
FY 1999 and increase by $25 million annually to $150 million in FY 
2003. No more than $10 million annually can be used for Reverse Commute 
projects. Urbanized areas with populations of at least 200,000 are 
allocated 60 percent of each fiscal year's funding. The remaining 40 
percent is divided evenly between urbanized areas with populations 
between 50,000 and 200,000, which receive 20 percent, and non-
urbanized, rural, areas with populations below 50,000, which also 
receive 20 percent.
    The FY 1999 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act 
provides $75 million for the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, 
including no more than $10 million for Reverse Commute activities. 
Therefore, in accordance with the allocation percentages specified in 
TEA-21, for FY 1999: $45 million is available for urbanized areas with 
populations of at least 200,000; $15 million is available for urbanized 
areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000; and $15 million is 
available for non-urbanized, rural, areas with population of less than 
50,000.

G. Cost Sharing

    The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program is intended to 
fill gaps in existing services and leverage other state and local 
transportation-related funding to address the unmet needs of 
individuals moving from welfare to work and other low income 
populations. The Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program is not 
large enough to fund all the critical transportation needs associated 
with meeting these needs. FTA's program, including the funds used to 
match the grants, is not intended to replace any existing source of 
funds. The maximum DOT share of a grant under the Job Access and 
Reverse Commute program may not exceed 50 percent of the total project 
cost. The non-DOT share shall be provided in cash. If funds are matched 
from other Federal programs, the funds may be applied directly to 
project expenses by the recipients of those funds. Revenues from 
service agreements are an eligible match, but revenues from individual 
fares cannot be used as a match.
    Transportation-eligible funding from Federal programs other than 
the Department of Transportation may be used as match. These include 
but are not limited to: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 
Community Services Block Grants (CSBG) and Social Services Block Grants 
(SSBG) administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services; Welfare-to-Work (WtW) formula and competitive grants 
administered by the U.S. Department of Labor; Community Development 
Block grants (CDBG) and HOPE VI grants administered by the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development. The prohibitions on the 
use of WtW funds for matching requirements under section 
403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act does no apply to Federal or 
state funds to provide transportation services. TANF and WtW grants, 
when used as match, may be expended only for new or expanded 
transportation services and cannot be used for construction or to 
subsidize current transit operating expenses. Such funds also must 
supplement rather than supplant other state expenditures or 
transportation. (``Child Support Performance and Incentives Act of 
1998,'' Pub. L. 105-200, Sec. 403, ``Limitations on Use of TANF Funds 
for Matching Under Certain Federal Transportation Programs.'')
    More extensive guidance on the use of TANF and WtW funds for 
transportation will be provided shortly. Guidance provided in a May 4, 
1998, letter from the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, 
and Transportation is currently being updated.

H. Federal Coordination/Outreach

    To help guide implementation of the Job Access and Reverse Commute 
program, DOT has conducted an extensive public outreach process. To 
ensure that the Job Access and Reverse Commute program complements 
other Federal welfare to work initiatives, DOT has worked closely with 
other Federal agencies in writing this program notice and will 
establish an interagency work group to assist in the application review 
process.

I. Planning

1. Coordinated Transportation/Human Services Planning Process
    Proposed Job Access and Reverse Commute projects must be derived 
from a Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan (see 
below) which results from a coordinated public transit/human services 
transportation planning process. The planning process may be initiated 
by any interested stakeholder group in the area. FTA encourages MPOs to 
serve as the regional forum.
    The planning process must include local transit agencies, the 
agencies administering TANF and WtW formula and competitive grants, 
welfare recipients and low-income people. The planning process also 
should include other stakeholders such as:
    Regional planning officials; human service, private, non-profit and 
other appropriate transportation and support service providers; 
community residents and organizations; faith-based organization; 
disability groups and representatives; local and state workforce 
development organizations including One-Stop Career Centers; recipients 
of TANF and WtW grants; public and assisted housing providers and 
community development agencies; economic development agencies; 
employers and employer groups (such as transportation management 
organizations and Chambers of Commerce); Private Industry Councils; and 
political officials including mayors, county supervisors, state 
legislators, governors and other state and local officials.
2. Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
    The purpose of collaboration is to develop a comprehensive regional 
approach to Job Access and Reverse Commute programs targeted at moving 
welfare recipients and low income people to jobs regarding of 
jurisdictional boundaries. Any project proposed for funding should be 
identified in the Regional Job Access Transportation Plan resulting 
from the above process. This plan is not meant to supersede but to 
build upon existing area welfare-to-work transportation planning 
activities. The Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation 
Plan must:
    a. Identify the geographic distributions of welfare recipients and 
low-income people in the region;
    b. Identify the geographic distributions of employment centers and 
employment-related activities in the region;
    c. Identify existing public, private, non-profit and human service 
transportation services in the region;
    d. Identify transportation gaps between the geographic 
distributions of people, as specified in section a, and employment, as 
specified in section b, which are not currently served by the 
transportation services, as specified in section c;
    e. Identify activities and projects to address the gaps identified 
in section d. Each project or activity identification should include:
    (1) Proposed goals and objectives of the project or activity.
    (2) Estimated cost of the project or activity.
    (3) explanation of how the project or activity would maximize use 
of existing transportation service providers and

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how the project or activity would be intergrated into existing 
transportation network
    f. A list, in priority order for funding and implementation, of the 
activities and projects identified in section e.
    Plans will vary in complexity according to area location and size. 
The Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan should 
build on and incorporate existing welfare to work transportation 
planning activities. During this first year of program implementation, 
FTA recognizes that some areas may have had a cross-jurisdictional 
collective process to identify the location of welfare recipients, 
areas of employment and training opportunities, and necessary new 
transportation links but may not have a full Regional Job Access and 
Reverse Commute Transportation Plan in place. Communities should 
document this work to comply with the plan requirements and continue to 
develop these plans in future years.
3. The Role of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
    MPOs are comprised of elected officials, representing local 
governments, and transportation service providers within the 
metropolitan area. They are responsible for adopting transportation 
plans and improvement programs to address a region's unique 
transportation needs and working with states to include these 
priorities in statewide plans.
    In regions with populations of more than 200,000, MPOs are 
responsible for selecting applicants to be considered for Federal Job 
Access and Reverse Commute grant funds. In regions with populations 
between 50,000 and 200,000, MPOs will recommend projects to the state, 
which will select the applicants to be considered for Federal Job 
Access and Reverse Commute grants.
    This means that MPOs are responsible for the following:
    a. Determining that Job Access and Reverse Commute projects are 
consistent with the regional long-range transportation plan.
    b. Endorsing and subsequently programming Job Access and Reverse 
Commute projects into the area Transportation Improvement Program.
    In all regions with MPOs, individual Job Access and Reverse Commute 
projects must be adopted into the MPO's Transportation Program prior to 
receiving the grant. Because this entails a formal review and project 
approved by the MPO Policy Board, FTA strongly urges the partners 
developing the Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan to 
communicate with the MPO from an early stage. Further, as financial 
sustainability of a project is one of the evaluation criteria, 
coordination with the agencies participating in the MPO forum could be 
a critical factor in ensuring long term support for Job Access and 
Reverse Commute activities.
4. Statewide Transportation Planning Requirements
    In all regions with populations of less than 200,000, the state is 
responsible for selecting applicants, based on recommendations by the 
MPO, to be considered for Federal Job Access and Reverse Commute grant 
funds. In addition, Job Access and Reverse Commute projects selected 
for funding must be endorsed by the state and incorporated into the 
statewide transportation improvement program. Because this requires 
approval, FTA strongly urges the partners to communicate with state 
officials including the State DOT from an early stage. In selecting 
projects in rural areas, states should give priority to projects 
providing service to places that are not currently served or are 
underserved by public transit systems.
5. Improved Transportation Planning
    The statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes 
mandated by TEA-21 promote ongoing, cooperative, and active involvement 
of public transportation providers; the public; and state, metropolitan 
and local government agencies in the development of state-wide and 
metropolitan transportation plans and improvement programs. DOT expects 
that the Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program will facilitate 
and be a catalyst for broadening the transportation planning process to 
better integrate employment and social equity considerations.

J. General Grant Requirements

    After an application has been selected based on the program-
specific requirements outlined in this notice, the applicant will be 
required to submit appropriate background certifications, assurances, 
and other documentation necessary to meet the requirements of FTA's 
Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program (Section 5307 program under Title 
49, United States Code). These include planning, environmental, school 
bus, charter, procurement, labor protections and civil rights 
requirements, including ADA, Title VI, and DBE. Any information 
technology purchased with these program: funds that is used for a 
period of time that extends beyond December 31, 1999, must be year 2000 
compliant. Applicants must have the financial, legal and technical 
capacity to apply for and administer projects. Copies of the Section 
5307 program guidance (circular FTA 9030.1B ``Urbanized Area Formula 
Program; Grant Application Instructions,'' Oct. 10, 1996) can be 
obtained from any FTA Regional Office or electronically through the FTA 
website. (See Appendix E for summary list.)

K. Performance Monitoring

    FTA expects grant recipients to monitor the performance of their 
Job Access and Reverse Commute services and to cooperate with the 
legislatively-mandated FTA and GAO national evaluations. Performance 
monitoring indicators are necessary for both the applicant's project 
implementation and for the national program evaluation. FTA will work 
with grantees to standardize performance monitoring indicators for all 
Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant recipients. At a minimum, FTA will 
expect information to be reported on a regular basis in the following 
categories:
    1. New/expanded service.
    a. Route miles of travel.
    b. Hours of operation.
    c. Frequency (or headway) of service.
    2. Increased Accessibility to Target Market.
    a. Approximate number of low-income/welfare persons within a given 
distance from service.
    b. Approximate measurement of employment opportunities and 
employment-related support services within a given distance from the 
service.
    3. Use and Productivity of Service.
    a. Number of riders.
    b. Comparison of baseline estimates of ridership for welfare 
recipients and low-income individuals to current ridership based on 
periodic surveys or actual count.
    c. Customer Satisfaction.
    4. Collaboration.
    a. List of organizations involved in the Job Access and Reverse 
Commute planning process.
    b. Number of meetings or other activities held.
    c. Listing of transportation services provided through 
collaboration.
    d. New financial arrangements developed.
    e. Additional cooperative initiatives.

II. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application

    FTA is conducting a national solicitation for applications under 
the Job Access and Reverse Commute

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Program. Grant awards will be made on a competitive basis. FTA 
encourages both traditional and non-traditional grantees in urban, 
suburban, and rural areas to participate in the development of 
projects.

A. Grant Funding Amounts

    Due to the relatively limited funding in FY 1999 and consistent 
with the legislatively-mandated funding distribution categories, FTA 
suggests the grant sizes identified below. Applicants may request 
smaller amounts from FTA.
    I. For urbanized areas with populations of over one million, FTA 
expects to make average grants of $1 million.
    2. For urbanized areas with populations greater than 200,000 and 
less than one million, FTA expects to make average grants of $500,000.
    3. For urbanized areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, 
FTA expects to make average grants of $200,000. States should generally 
not submit applications that collectively exceed $1 million for this 
category.
    4. For rural areas (areas with populations of less than 50,000), 
individual area grant applications generally should not exceed 
$150,000. Collective state grant applications for rural areas generally 
should not exceed $1 million.

B. Project Scope

    Proposed projects must be drawn from a Regional Job Access and 
Reverse Commute Transportation Plan and focus on new or expanded 
transportation services. For FY 1999, grantees should focus on projects 
that can be implemented quickly.
    FTA recognizes that some grantees may have well-developed plans 
that extend over several years and that have implementation costs that 
exceed the suggested FY 1999 grant size. These applicants may request a 
multi-year funding commitment to implement their plans. In these cases, 
applicants may elect to use the FY 1999 grant to fully fund high 
priority items of the regional plan, with subsequent grants used to 
phase in additional elements of the plan. Alternatively, applicants may 
elect to use the FY 1999 grant to cover the initial costs of a more 
comprehensive program, with subsequent grants used to fund carry-on 
activities. There may be other viable multi-year funding alternatives. 
In deciding on an approach that best meets local needs, applicants must 
note that any multi-year commitments are subject to an annual review of 
demonstrated progress in meeting program objectives and milestones 
identified in the application, as well as the conditions of match, the 
annual budget process, and congressional appropriations.
    For planning purposes, future year funding in multi-year commitment 
requests should conform to the FY 1999 grant size guidelines.

III. Application Submission

A. Application Development

    To promote collaboration and reduce administrative paperwork, FTA 
strongly encourages the submission of a consolidated application by a 
single entity in urbanized areas and the submission of a consolidated 
application by the state for rural areas. In both cases, funds may be 
passed on to subrecipients. Tribal projects selected by the state may 
choose to allow the state to include their program in the state's 
application or to apply directly to FTA. Furthermore, FTA encourages 
states and local transit authorities, which have experience in 
developing and administering FTA grant programs to serve as the single 
entity submitting applications on behalf of other entities, as these 
existing FTA grantees may have already met, or have on file information 
that will satisfy many of the FTA requirements that apply to this 
program.

B. Application

    An original and two copies of the application must be submitted to 
the appropriate FTA Regional Office. The application should provide 
information on all project(s) for which you are requesting funding in 
FY 1999. If a multi-year commitment is sought, the information should 
cover all years for which funding is sought. The information provided 
in support of this application may vary with the size of the area 
applying and the grant being sought. Applicants should develop brief 
narratives on the information sought. Project narratives should not 
exceed 10-15 pages.
    The application should include the following elements:
    1. Transmittal Letter.
    This addresses basic identifying information including:
    a. Grant Applicant.
    b. Contact name and phone number.
    c. Population size of region.
    d. Location of proposed project(s).
    e. Amount of grant request.
    2. Project Eligibility.
    Every application must:
    a. Describe applicant's organizational capacity to implement the 
proposed project(s).
    b. Document matching funds, including amount and source.
    c. Attach Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation 
Plan.
    d. Document approval by affected transit authorities.
    e. For urbanized areas with populations over 200,000, document MPO 
selection and intention to amend the Transportation Improvement Plan 
(TIP) if project is selected for funding.
    f. For urbanized areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, 
document state selection and MPO intention to amend the TIP if project 
is selected for funding.
    g. For areas with populations below 50,000, document state 
selection and intention to amend the state-wide transportation 
improvement plan (STIP) if project is selected for funding.
    3. Project Information.
    Provide a summary of project activities from the Regional Job 
Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan for which your 
application is requesting funding. The summary should include:
    a. Each project's time line, including significant milestones.
    b. Designation of project as a Job Access or Reverse Commute 
service. If applying under both, indicate how you will divide the 
funds.
    c. Project budget (See Appendix C).
    4. Project Narrative.
    Provide the information identified below to support your 
application. More descriptive information has been provided in Section 
I of this notice.
    a. Document the coordinated human services/transportation planning 
process. This should include:
    1. Description of the collaborative transportation/human services 
process used in developing the Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute 
Transportation Plan.
    2. List of the participants and their respective roles.
    3. Identification of new partnerships and cooperative relationships 
developed.
    4. Description of specific coordination with legislatively-mandated 
partners: transportation providers and transit agencies, state agencies 
administering the TANF and WtW funds.
    5. Description of consultation with and public involvement of the 
community to be served, including welfare recipients and low income 
residents.
    6. Sign-offs or letters of endorsement from planning partners.
    b. Describe the unmet need for additional transportation services 
to transport welfare recipients and low income individuals to jobs, 
training and other employment services. This should include:

[[Page 60173]]

    1. Definition of the proposed service areas and the population and 
communities to be served.
    2. The number of welfare recipients and low income persons and the 
percentage of the population that they represent.
    3. Description of the existing transportation resources, if any, 
including human services, nonprofit and public transportation 
providers.
    4. Description of transportation gaps in existing services.
    5. For Reverse Commute projects, information on the need for 
additional transportation services.
    c. Describe how the proposed services will meet the unmet need 
described above. This should include or address the following:
    1. Specify project goals and objectives.
    2. Identify employment potential in the proposed service area.
    3. For Job Access projects, estimate low income and welfare 
recipient ridership.
    4. For Reverse Commute projects, estimate ridership by the general 
public and by welfare recipients and low income individuals.
    5. Specify type of capital investments to be funded.
    6. Specify type of operating costs to be funded.
    7. Provide operation-specific data (e.g., miles/hours of service, 
new routes, route extensions, etc.).
    8. Specify how use of all existing transportation service providers 
is being maximized.
    9. Describe how these services will address the needs of persons 
with disabilities and how the requirements of ADA will be met.
    10. Present indicators that will be used to monitor project 
performance and make subsequent adjustments in project implementation.
    d. Document financial commitments, including prospects for 
sustainability.
    1. Identify how human service (such as TANF, WtW, other Federal, 
state or local) financial resources have been leveraged.
    2. Identify the financial commitment of existing transportation 
providers.
    3. Identify long term financing that may be proposed or available 
to support continuation of the proposed project or other aspects of the 
regional plan.
    e. Variable Factors. Please specify how each of the following 
factors applies to your project(s). If any are not applicable, explain 
why not.
    1. Innovative Approaches--Identify innovative techniques in and 
approaches to the proposed project.
    2. Use of Employer-based Strategies--Describe any commitment by 
employers that will contribute to the success of the project.
    3. Linkages to Other Employment Support Services--Identify 
available employment support services that complement the 
transportation activities and are critical to ensuring that welfare 
recipients get and retain jobs.
    4. Other Strategies--Describe other locality-specific actions, 
strategies and linkages, about which FTA should be aware, that were not 
captured in the preceding criteria.
    The checklist in Appendix D should be used to ensure that you have 
developed a complete application.

IV. Grant Review Process

    Applications are to be submitted to the appropriate FTA Regional 
Office by the close of business December 31, 1998. FTA will screen all 
applications to determine whether all required eligibility elements, as 
described in Section 2 of the Application, are present. A multi-agency 
task force will evaluate each application according to the criteria 
described in this announcement. FTA will select projects based on what 
is most advantageous to the government, considering, in addition to the 
award criteria, the time frame for implementation, the availability of 
funds, and geographic distribution.

A. Award Criteria

    Once eligibility is established, the merit of each application will 
be evaluated based on the following factors. The number of points in 
parentheses indicates the maximum level of points for a given factor.
1. Coordinated human services/transportation planning process and 
Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation plan (25 Points)
    Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant:
    (A) Demonstrates a collaborative planning process, including:
    (1) coordination with, and the financial commitment of, existing 
transportation service providers;
    (2) coordination with the state or local agencies that administer 
the state program funded under part A of title IV of the Social 
Security Act (TANF and WtW grant programs);
    (3) coordination with public housing agencies (including Indian 
tribes and their tribally designated housing entities as defined by the 
Secretary of HUD) if any, which intend to apply for Welfare to Work 
Housing Vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
    (4) consultation with the community to be served; and
    (5) consultation with other area stakeholders.
    (B) Presents a Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute 
Transportation Plan addressing the transportation needs of welfare 
recipients and low-income individuals.
2. Demonstrated Need for Additional Transportation Services (30 Points)
    Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates:
    (A) in the case of an applicant seeking assistance to finance a Job 
Access project, the relative need for additional services in the area 
to be served to transport welfare recipients and eligible low-income 
individuals to and from specified jobs, training and other employment 
support services; and
    (B) in the case of an applicant seeking assistance to finance a 
Reverse Commute project, the need for additional services to transport 
individuals to suburban employment opportunities.
3. Extent to Which Proposed Services Will Meet the Need for Services 
(35 Points)
    Evaluated based on the extent to which:
    (A) The proposed service will meet the need.
    (B) To which the applicant demonstrates the maximum use of existing 
transportation service providers and expands transit networks or hours 
of service, or both.
4. Financial Commitments (10 Points)
    Evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant:
    (A) Identifies long-term financing strategies to support proposed 
services.
    (B) Identifies financial commitments by human service providers.
    (C) Identifies financial commitments by existing transportation 
providers.
FTA also will consider the extent to which the applicant addresses the 
following variable factors: (10 Bonus Points Total)
    1. Innovative approaches that are responsive to identified service 
needs;
    2. Use of employer-based strategies;
    3. Linkages to other employment-related support services; and
    4. Other strategies that are effective in meeting program goals.

B. Notification

    FTA will notify applicants in February 1999. Those selected must 
then submit appropriate background certifications, assurances, and 
other

[[Page 60174]]

documentation necessary to meet the applicable FTA Section 5307 
Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program requirements and be included in 
the TIP or STIP as appropriate. Technical assistance regarding these 
requirements is available in each FTA regional office. Complete 
documentation must be submitted to the appropriate FTA regional office 
no later than March 31, 1999.
    FTA is committed to obligating FY 1999 Job Access and Reverse 
Commute funding expeditiously. Therefore, FTA urges applicants to 
develop documentation in accordance with the Section 5307 program 
guidance as soon as possible. This allows the information necessary for 
grant approval to be readily available for submission to FTA when 
projects are selected for funding. FTA will approve final applications 
as soon as they are complete.

    Issued on: November 3, 1998.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.

APPENDIX A--(FTA) REGIONAL OFFICES

Region I--Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, 
Vermont and Maine, Richard H. Doyle, FTA--Regional Administrator, 
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Kendall Square, 55 
Broadway, Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, (617) 494-2055
Region II--New York, New Jersey, Virgin Islands, Letitia Thompson, 
FTA--Regional Administrator, 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 2940, New York, 
NY 10278-0194, (212) 264-8162
Region III--Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, 
Delaware, Washington, D.C., Sheldon Kinbar, FTA--Regional 
Administrator, 1760 Market Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 
19103-4124, (215) 656-7100
Region IV--Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, 
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Puerto Rico, Susan 
Schruth, FTA--Regional Administrator, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 
17T50, Atlanta, GA 30303, (404) 562-3500
Region V--Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, 
Joel Ettinger, FTA--Regional Administrator, 200 West Adams Street, 
Suite 2410, Chicago, IL 60606-5232, (312) 353-2789
Region VI--Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Lee 
Waddleton, FTA--Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street, Room 
8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-0550
Region VII--Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA--
Regional Administrator, 6301 Rockhill Road, Suite 303, Kansas City, 
MO 64131-1117, (816) 523-0204
Region VIII--Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, 
Utah, Louis Mraz, FTA--Regional Administrator, Columbine Place, 216 
16th Street, Suite 650, Denver, CO 80202-5120, (303) 844-3242
Region IX--California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, American Samoa, 
Guam, Leslie Rogers, FTA--Regional Administrator, 201 Mission 
Street, Suite 2210, San Francisco, CA 94105-1831, (415) 744-3133
Region X--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Helen Knoll, FTA--
Regional Administrator, Jackson Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, 
Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174-1002, (206) 220-7954

Appendix B--Definitions

1. Welfare Recipient--An individual, who receives or received aid or 
assistance under a state program funded under Part A of Title IV of 
the Social Security Act (whether in effect before or after the 
effective date of the amendments made by Title I of the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 
(Public Law 104-193); 110 Stat 2110) at any time during the 3-year 
period before the date on which the applicant applies for a grant.
2. Elibible Low-Income Individual--An individual whose family income 
is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line (as that term is 
defined in Section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) including any revisions required by that section 
for a family of the size involved. These are calculated by HHS; the 
1998 guidelines were published in the February 24, 1998, (Volume 63, 
Number 36) Federal Register, page 9235-9238.
3. Existing Transportation Service Provider--Public transportation 
providers including public, private and non-profit fixed route and 
paratransit operators, and governmental agencies and nonprofit 
organizations that receive assistance from Federal, state, or local 
sources for nonemergency transportation services.
4. Human Services Provider--Agencies and organizations involved in 
helping welfare recipients and low income populations to make the 
transition to work and providing supportive employment services. 
These agencies and organizations include state and local workforce 
development organizations, agencies administering TANF and WtW 
formula and competitive funds, public and assisted housing providers 
and community development agencies, and where appropriate, faith-
based and community-based organizations providing employment support 
services.
5. Qualified Entity--(A) With respect to any proposed eligible 
project in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000, 
the applicant(s) selected by the appropriate metropolitan planning 
organization that meets the program eligibility requirements, 
including planning and coordination requirements, from among local 
governmental authorities and agencies and nonprofit organizations; 
and (B) With respect to any proposed eligible project in an 
urbanized area with a population of greater than 50,000 and less 
than 200,000, or an area other than an urbanized area, the 
applicant(s) selected by the chief executive officer of the state in 
which the area is located that meets the program eligibility 
requirements, including the planning and coordination requirements, 
from among local governmental authorities and nonprofit 
organizations.
6. Transit Capital and Operating Assistance Projects--This term 
means projects to finance acquisition, construction, improvement, 
and operating costs of facilities, equipment and associated capital 
maintenance items used in mass transportation service, including 
crime prevention and security of and for such equipment and 
facilities. Direct administrative expenses associated with the 
provision of job access and reverse commute services are also 
eligible operating expenses.

Appendix C--Sample Project Budget

                                                  FY 99 Funding
                                   Applicant: ---------- Area Size: ----------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Federal amount       Total amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Job Access Project
    Capital Costs
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
            Quantity....................................................       ____________        ____________
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________

[[Page 60175]]

            Quantity....................................................       ____________        ____________
    Example
        Activity                                                               ____________        ____________
            Vans........................................................       ____________        ____________
            Quantity 4
    Operating Costs
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
    Example
        Activity                                                               ____________        ____________
            Late Night..................................................       ____________        ____________
            Service (3 Routes)
                Total...................................................       ____________        ____________
B. Reverse Commute Project
    Capital Costs
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
            Quantity....................................................       ____________        ____________
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
            Quantity....................................................       ____________        ____________
    Example
        Activity                                                               ____________        ____________
            Vans........................................................       ____________        ____________
            Quantity 4                                                         ____________        ____________
    Operating Costs
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
        Activity........................................................       ____________        ____________
    Example
        Activity                                                               ____________        ____________
            Two new routes..............................................       ____________        ____________
                Total...................................................       ____________        ____________
Grand Total (A or B or A & B) for those applicants seeking a multi-year
 commitment, provide this information for subsequent years of reference
 budget material from your Job Access Transportation Plan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix D--Application Check List (To Meet December 31 Deadline)

{time}  TRANSMITTAL LETTER
{time}  PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
     Organizational Capacity
     50 Percent Non-DOT Match
     Regional Job Access and Reverse Commute Transportation Plan
     Approval of Affected Transit Authorities
     MPO/State Endorsement and Programming as Appropriate
{time}  PROJECT INFORMATION
     Activity Summaries/Timelines/Milestones
     Designation As Job Access Or Reverse Commute Project
     Project Budget
{time}  PROJECT NARRATIVE
     Documentation of Coordinated Human Services/Transportation
     Planning Process
         Coordination with Agencies Administering TANF & WtW
         Coordination with Existing Transportation Operators
         Consultation with Affected Communities
         Consultation with Employers
     Documentation of Unmet Needs
     Description of How Proposed Services Will Meet Needs
     Documentation of Financial Commitments
     Response to Variable Factors (Bonus Points)
         Innovative Approaches
         Employer-Based Strategies
         Linkages to Other Employment Support Services
         Other Strategies

Appendix E--Summary of FTA's Section 5307 Requirements

    This is the full range of 5307 requirements. Some of these items 
are covered in the application, in which case you will not need to 
submit information twice.

APPROVAL PREREQUISITES:
(On file with FTA, or to be submitted with application and updates as
 appropriate)
Opinion of Counsel
Authorizing Resolution
Current annual Certification and Assurances
Civil rights submissions up-to-date

[[Page 60176]]

    Title VI
    Annual DBE Goal
    DBE Program
    EEO Program
    ADA
National Transit Database reports-up-to-date
Any outstanding oversight findings resolved or resolution plan and
 schedule set
Additional Information:
Project Budget
Project Description
Project Justification/Supporting Information as necessary
Project Milestone Schedule
Labor Union Description(s) (including information about earlier DOL
 certifications that may apply to this project)
Environmental Review
    Date of FTA's signing of FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact),
     or
    Date of FTA's signing of ROD (Record of Decision) closing out the
     EIS process, or
    Grant applicant's Categorical Exclusion recommendation if neither
     (a) nor (b) above applies
Air Quality
    Date of project level conformity determination by FTA, or
    Applicant's recommendation concerning list of exemptions in the
     conformity regulation (40 CFR Part 51)
STIP--Date of Approved by FTA
Request for copy of Master Agreement
    (If applicant does not have latest one on file)

[FR Doc. 98-29777 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M