[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65983-65991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29238]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of fiscal year 2004 funds; solicitation 
of grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) announces the availability of funds in fiscal year 
(FY) 2004 for the Over-the-Road Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program, 
authorized by Section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 
21st Century (TEA-21). The OTRB Accessibility Program makes funds 
available to private operators of over-the-road buses to finance the 
incremental capital and training costs of complying with DOT's over-
the-road bus accessibility final rule, published in a Federal Register 
notice on September 24, 1998. The OTRB Accessibility Program calls for 
national solicitation of applications, with grantees to be selected on 
a competitive basis. Federal transit funds are available to intercity 
fixed-route providers and other OTRB providers at up to 90 percent of 
the project cost.
    FTA expects that in FY 2004, $5.25 million will be appropriated for 
intercity fixed-route service providers and $1.7 million will be 
appropriated for other over-the-road bus service providers. As of the 
date of this announcement, TEA-21 has been extended through February 
29, 2004, and the FY 2004 funding for FTA programs has not yet been 
appropriated by Congress. This announcement describes application 
procedures for the OTRB Accessibility Program and the procedures FTA 
will use to determine which projects it will fund when the status of FY 
2004 funding is resolved.
    This announcement is available on the Internet on the FTA website 
at: http://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections on the 
website and in the Federal Register. A synopsis of this announcement 
will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic 
grants website at http://www.grants.gov.

DATES: Complete applications for OTRB Accessibility Program grants must 
be submitted to the appropriate FTA regional office (see Appendix A) by 
the close of business February 2, 2004.
    The appropriate FTA regional office is that office which serves the 
state in which an applicant's headquarters office is located. FTA will 
announce grant selections in summer 2004, or when FY 2004 funds are 
fully available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional 
Administrator (Appendix B) for application-specific information and 
issues. For general program information, contact Blenda Younger, Office 
of Program Management, (202) 366-2053, e-mail: 
[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 Applications
III. Grant Application Review Process
    Appendix A OTRB Accessibility Program Application
    Appendix B FTA Regional Offices

I. General Program Information

A. Authority

    The program is authorized under Section 3038 of the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Although FY 2004 funds have 
not yet been appropriated as of the date of this notice, FTA is issuing 
the solicitation notice now to get the application cycle started.

B. Background

    Over-the-road buses are used in intercity fixed-route service as 
well as other services, such as commuter, charter, and tour bus 
services. These services are an important element of the U.S. 
transportation system. TEA-21 authorized FTA's Over-the-road Bus 
Accessibility Program to assist over-the-road bus operators in 
complying with the Department's Over-the-road Bus Accessibility rule, 
``Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities'' (49 CFR part 37) 
published in a Federal Register notice on September 24, 1998.
Summary of DOT's Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Rule
    Deadlines for Acquiring Accessible Vehicles. Under the over-the-
road bus accessibility rule, all new buses obtained by large (Class I 
carriers, i.e., those with gross annual operating revenues of $5.3 
million or more), fixed-route carriers after October 30, 2000 must be 
accessible, with wheelchair lifts and tie-downs that allow passengers 
to ride in their own wheelchairs. The rule requires 50 percent of the 
fixed-route carriers' fleets to be accessible by 2006, and 100 percent 
of the vehicles in their fleets to be accessible by 2012. The buses 
acquired by small (gross operating revenues of less than $5.3 million 
annually) fixed-route providers after October 29, 2001 also are 
required to be lift-equipped, although they do not have a deadline for 
total fleet accessibility. Small providers also can provide equivalent 
service in lieu of obtaining accessible buses. Starting in 2001, 
charter and tour companies have to provide service in an accessible bus 
on 48 hours' advance notice. Fixed-route companies must also provide 
this kind of service on an interim basis until their fleets are 
completely accessible.
    Deadlines for Delivering Accessible Service. The rules for 
delivering accessible motorcoach service went into effect October 29, 
2001 for large fixed-route, charter, tour and other demand-responsive 
motorcoach companies. The rules went into effect for small operators on 
October 28, 2002. After these dates, companies must provide service in 
an accessible coach to a passenger who

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requests it and gives 48 hours' advance notice. Small companies may 
provide equivalent service, instead of acquiring accessible coaches. 
This equivalent service may be provided in an alternate vehicle (e.g., 
a van), provided that the service allows passengers to travel in their 
own wheelchairs.
    Specifications describing the design features that an over-the-road 
bus must have to be readily accessible to and usable by persons who use 
wheelchairs or other mobility aids required by the ``Americans with 
Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles: 
Over-the-Road Buses'' rule (36 CFR part 1192) were published in another 
Federal Register notice on September 28, 1998.

C. Scope

    Improving mobility and shaping America's future by ensuring that 
the transportation system is accessible, integrated, and efficient, and 
offers flexibility of choices is a key strategic goal of the Department 
of Transportation. Over-the-road Bus Accessibility projects will 
improve mobility for individuals with disabilities by providing 
financial assistance to help make vehicles accessible and provide 
training to ensure that drivers and others understand how to use 
accessibility features as well as how to treat patrons with 
disabilities.

D. Eligible Applicants

    Grants will be made directly to operators of over-the-road buses. 
Intercity, fixed-route over-the-road bus service providers may apply 
for the $5.25 million that FTA expects will be available to intercity 
fixed-route providers in FY 2004. Other over-the-road bus service 
providers, including operators of local fixed-route service, commuter 
service, and charter or tour service may apply for the $1.7 million 
expected to be available in FY 2004 for these providers. OTRB operators 
who provide intercity, fixed-route service and another type of service, 
such as commuter, charter or tour, may apply for both categories of 
funds with a single application. Private for-profit operators of over-
the-road buses are eligible to be direct applicants for this program. 
This is a departure from most other FTA programs for which the direct 
applicant must be a state or local public body.

E. Vehicle and Service Definitions

    An ``over-the-road bus'' is a bus characterized by an elevated 
passenger deck located over a baggage compartment.
    Intercity, fixed-route over-the-road bus service is regularly 
scheduled bus service for the general public, using an over-the-road 
bus that: operates with limited stops over fixed routes connecting two 
or more urban areas not in close proximity or connecting one or more 
rural communities with an urban area not in close proximity; has the 
capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers; and makes 
meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more 
distant points.
    Other over-the-road bus service means any other transportation 
using over-the-road buses, including local fixed-route service, 
commuter service, and charter or tour service (including tour or 
excursion service that includes features in addition to bus 
transportation such as meals, lodging, admission to points of interest 
or special attractions). While some commuter service may also serve the 
needs of some intercity fixed-route passengers, the statute includes 
commuter service in the definition of ``other'' service. Commuter 
service providers should apply for these funds, even though the 
services designed to meet the needs of commuters may also provide 
service to intercity fixed-route passengers on an incidental basis. If 
a service provider can document that more than 50 percent of its 
passengers are using the service as intercity fixed-route service, the 
provider may apply for the funds designated for intercity fixed-route 
operators.

F. Eligible Projects

    Projects to finance the incremental capital and training costs of 
complying with DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility rule (49 CFR part 
37) are eligible for funding. Incremental capital costs eligible for 
funding include adding lifts, tie-downs, moveable seats, doors and all 
labor costs associated with work on the vehicle needed to make vehicles 
accessible. Retrofitting vehicles with such accessibility components is 
also an eligible expense. Please see Buy America section for further 
determination of eligibility.
    FTA may award funds for costs already incurred by the applicants. 
Any new wheelchair accessible vehicles delivered since June 8, 1998, 
the date that the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century was 
effective, are eligible for funding under the program. Vehicles of any 
age that have been retrofitted with lifts and other accessibility 
components since June 8, 1998 are also eligible for funding.
    Eligible training costs are those required by the final 
accessibility rule as described in 49 CFR 37.209. These activities 
include training in proper operation and maintenance of accessibility 
features and equipment, boarding assistance, securement of mobility 
aids, sensitive and appropriate interaction with passengers with 
disabilities, and handling and storage of mobility devices. The costs 
associated with developing training materials or providing training for 
local providers of over-the-road bus services for these purposes are 
eligible expenses.
    FTA will not fund the incremental costs of acquiring used 
wheelchair accessible OTRBs, as it may be impossible to verify whether 
or not FTA funds were already used to make the vehicles accessible. 
Also, it would be difficult to place a value on the accessibility 
features based upon the depreciated value of the vehicle. FTA wishes to 
increase the number of wheelchair accessible over-the-road buses 
available to persons with disabilities throughout the country, and the 
purchase of used accessible vehicles, whether or not they were 
previously funded by FTA, does not further this objective.
    FTA has sponsored the development of accessibility training 
materials for public transit operators. FTA-funded Project Action is a 
national technical assistance program to promote cooperation between 
the disability community and the transportation industry. Project 
Action provides training, resources and technical assistance to 
thousands of disability organizations, consumers with disabilities, and 
transportation operators. It maintains a resource center with the most 
up-to-date information on transportation accessibility. Project Action 
may be contacted at: Project Action, 700 Thirteenth Street NW., Suite 
200, Washington, DC 20590, Phone: 1-800-659-6428, Internet address: 
http://www.projectaction.org/.

G. Grant Criteria

    FTA will award grants based on:

    1. The identified need for over-the-road bus accessibility for 
persons with disabilities in the areas served by the applicant;
    2. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates innovative 
strategies and financial commitment to providing access to over-the-
road buses to persons with disabilities;
    3. The extent to which the over-the-road bus operator acquires 
equipment required by DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility rule prior 
to the required timeframe in the rule;
    4. The extent to which financing the costs of complying with DOT's 
rule presents a financial hardship for the applicant; and

[[Page 65985]]

    5. The impact of accessibility requirements on the continuation of 
over-the-road bus service, with particular consideration of the impact 
of the requirements on service to rural areas and for low-income 
individuals.

These are the statutory criteria upon which funding decisions will be 
made. In addition to these criteria, FTA may also consider other 
factors, such as the size of the applicant's fleet and the level of FTA 
funding that may already have been awarded to applicants in prior 
years.

H. Grant Requirements

    Applicants selected for funding must include documentation 
necessary to meet the requirements of FTA's Nonurbanized Area Formula 
program (Section 5311 under Title 49, United States Code). Technical 
assistance regarding these requirements is available from each FTA 
regional office. The regional offices will contact those applicants 
selected for funding regarding procedures for making the required 
certifications and assurances to FTA before grants are made.
    Those applicants selected for funding will be required to comply 
with all of the Federal requirements applicable to the OTRB 
Accessibility Program, provided in the comprehensive compilation below. 
Federal requirements apply to the incremental cost of adding wheelchair 
accessibility features to new vehicles or when retrofitting existing 
vehicles, not to the entire vehicle. All applicants are advised to read 
the entire list of requirements to be confident of their 
responsibilities and commitments for compliance.
    The authority for these requirements are provided by the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Pub. L. 105-178, June 
9, 1998, as amended by the TEA-21 Restoration Act 105-206, 112 Stat. 
685, July 22, 1998, 49 U.S.C. chapter 53, Title 23, United States Code, 
DOT and FTA regulations at 49 CFR, and FTA Circulars.
1. Buy America
    In the OTRB Accessibility program, FTA's Buy America regulations, 
49 CFR Part 661, apply to the incremental capital cost of making 
vehicles accessible. Those regulations do not apply to associated labor 
costs. The following discussion relates to the contract between the 
grantee and the prime contractor.
    The ``General Requirements'' found at 49 CFR 661.5 apply to that 
portion of the accessibility system being funded. That section requires 
that all of the manufacturing processes for the product take place in 
the United States and that all components of the product be made in the 
United States. A component is considered domestic if it is manufactured 
in the U.S.A., regardless of the origin of its subcomponents. The lift, 
the moveable seats, and the securement devices will all be considered 
components for purposes of this program; accordingly, as components, 
each must be manufactured in the United States. Should a recipient 
choose to request funding for only a specific component, such as the 
lift or the securement device, then the Buy America requirements would 
apply only to that item funded by FTA.
    Three exceptions to the general requirements can be found at 49 CFR 
661.7: first, a waiver may be requested when the application of the 
regulation is not in the public interest; second, a waiver may be 
requested if the materials and products being procured are not produced 
in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities 
and of a satisfactory quality; and third, a price differential waiver 
may be requested where the results of competitive procurement show that 
there is a 25 percent price difference between the domestic and foreign 
products. FTA approval of a waiver must be received by the recipient of 
FTA funds prior to the execution of contract.
    It should also be noted that FTA has issued a general public 
interest waiver for all purchases under the Federal ``small purchase'' 
threshold, which is currently $100,000. This waiver can be found in 49 
CFR 661.7, Appendix A(e). In Section 3038(b) of TEA-21, Congress 
authorized FTA financing of the incremental capital costs of compliance 
with DOT's OTRB accessibility rule. Consistent with this provision, the 
small purchase waiver applies only to the incremental cost of the 
accessibility features FTA is funding. Where more than one bus is 
purchased, the grantee must consider the incremental cost increase for 
the entire procurement when determining if the small purchase waiver 
applies. For example, if $30,000 is the incremental cost for the 
accessibility features eligible under this program per bus (regardless 
of the Federal share contribution), then a procurement of three buses 
with a total such cost of $90,000, would qualify for the small purchase 
waiver. No special application to FTA would be required.
    The grantee must obtain a certification from the bus manufacturer 
that all items included in the incremental cost for which the applicant 
is applying for funds meet Buy America requirements.
    The Buy America regulations can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/buyamer/.
2. Labor Protection
    Before FTA may award a grant for capital assistance, 49 U.S.C. 
5333(b) requires that fair and equitable arrangements must be made to 
protect the interests of transit employees affected by FTA assistance. 
Those arrangements must be certified by the Secretary of Labor as 
meeting the requirements of the statute. When a labor organization 
represents a group of affected employees in the service area of an FTA 
project, the employee protective arrangement is usually the product of 
negotiations or discussions with the union. The grant applicant can 
facilitate Department of Labor (DOL) certification by identifying in 
the application any previously certified protective arrangements that 
have been applied to similar projects undertaken by the grant 
applicant, if any. Receiving funds under the OTRB Accessibility 
program, however, will not require the grantee's employees to be 
represented by organized labor. Nothing in the labor protection 
provisions in 49 U.S.C 5333(b) requires a motorcoach operator to become 
a union carrier or encourages union organizing in any manner. Upon 
receipt of a grant application requiring employee protective 
arrangements, FTA will transmit the application to DOL and request 
certification of the employee protective arrangements. In accordance 
with DOL guidelines, DOL notifies the relevant unions in the area of 
the project that a grant for assistance is pending and affords the 
grant applicant and union the opportunity to agree to an arrangement 
establishing the terms and conditions of the employee protections. If 
necessary, DOL furnishes technical and mediation assistance to the 
parties during their negotiations. The Secretary of Labor may determine 
the protections to be certified if the parties do not reach an 
agreement after good faith bargaining and mediation efforts have been 
exhausted. DOL will also set the protective conditions when affected 
employees in the service area are not represented by a union. When DOL 
determines that employee protective arrangements comply with labor 
protection requirements, DOL will provide a certification to FTA. The 
grant agreement between FTA and the grant applicant incorporates by 
reference the employee protective arrangements certified by DOL.
    Applicants must identify any labor organizations that may represent 
their

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employees and all labor organizations that represent the employees of 
any other transit providers in the service area of the project.
    For each local of a nationally affiliated union, the applicant must 
provide the name of the national organization and the number or other 
designation of the local union. (For example, Amalgamated Transit Union 
local 1258) Since DOL makes its referral to the national union's 
headquarters, there is no need to provide a means of contacting the 
local organization.
    However, for each independent labor organization (i.e., a union 
that is not affiliated with a national or international organization) 
the local information will be necessary (name of organization, address, 
contact person, phone, fax numbers).
    Where a labor organization represents transit employees in the 
service area of the project, DOL must refer the proposed protective 
arrangements to each union and to each recipient. For this reason, 
please provide DOL with a contact person, address, telephone number and 
fax number for your company, and associated union information.
    DOL issued a Federal Register notice addressing the new TEA-21 
programs, including the OTRB Accessibility Program, ``Amendment to 
Section 5333(b) Guidelines to Carry Out New Programs Authorized by the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)''; Final Rule, 
dated July 28, 1999. FTA issued a ``Dear Colleague'' letter, dated 
December 5, 2000, addressing DOL processing of grant applications. 
Attached to the letter is an application checklist which provides 
information that DOL must have in order to review and certify FTA grant 
applications. This letter and attachment can be found at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/office/public/c0019.html. Questions concerning 
protective arrangements and related matters pertaining to transit 
employees should be addressed to the Division of Statutory Programs, 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-5411, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-0126, fax (202) 219-5338.
3. Planning
    Applicants are encouraged to notify the appropriate state 
departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations 
(MPO) in areas likely to be served by equipment made accessible through 
funds made available in this program. Those organizations, in turn, 
should take appropriate steps to inform the public, and individuals 
requiring fully accessible services in particular, of operators' 
intentions to expand the accessibility of their services. Incorporation 
of funded projects in the plans and transportation improvement programs 
of states and metropolitan areas by states and MPOs also is encouraged, 
but is not required.
4. Standard Assurances
    The Applicant assures that it will comply with all applicable 
Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, FTA circulars, and 
other Federal administrative requirements in carrying out any project 
supported by the FTA grant. The Applicant acknowledges that it is under 
a continuing obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the 
grant agreement issued for its project with FTA. The Applicant 
understands that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and 
administrative practices might be modified from time to time and affect 
the implementation of the project. The Applicant agrees that the most 
recent Federal requirements will apply to the project, unless FTA 
issues a written determination otherwise.
    A. Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters for 
Primary Covered Transactions. As required by U.S. DOT regulations on 
Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) at 49 CFR 
29.510:
    (1) The Applicant (Primary Participant) certifies, to the best of 
its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals:

    (a) Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, 
declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions 
by any Federal department or agency;
    (b) Have not, within a three (3) year period preceding this 
certification, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered 
against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in 
connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public 
(Federal, state, or local) transaction or contract under a public 
transaction, violation of Federal or state antitrust statutes, or 
commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or 
destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen 
property;
    (c) Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or 
civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, state, or local) 
with commission of any of the offenses listed in subparagraph (1)(b) of 
this certification; and
    (d) Have not within a three-year period preceding this 
certification had one or more public transactions (Federal, state, or 
local) terminated for cause or default.

    (2) The Applicant also certifies that, if it later becomes aware of 
any information contradicting the statements of paragraph (1) above, it 
will promptly provide that information to FTA.
    (3) If the Applicant (Primary Participant) is unable to certify to 
all statements in paragraphs (1) and (2) above, it shall indicate so in 
its signature page and provide a written explanation to FTA.
    B. Drug-Free Workplace Agreement. As required by U.S. DOT 
regulations, ``Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Grants),'' 49 CFR part 
29, subpart F, as modified by 41 U.S.C. 702, the Applicant agrees that 
it will provide a drug-free workplace by:

    (1) Publishing a statement notifying its employees that the 
unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a 
controlled substance is prohibited in its workplace and specifying the 
actions that will be taken against its employees for violation of that 
prohibition;
    (2) Establishing an ongoing drug-free awareness program to inform 
its employees about:

    (a) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace,
    (b) Its policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace,
    (c) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee 
assistance programs, and
    (d) The penalties that may be imposed upon its employees for drug 
abuse violations occurring in the workplace;

    (3) Making it a requirement that each of its employees be engaged 
in the performance of the grant be given a copy of the statement 
required by paragraph (1) above;
    (4) Notifying each of its employees in the statement required by 
paragraph (1) that, as a condition of employment financed with Federal 
assistance provided by the grant, the employee will be required to:

    (a) Abide by the terms of the statement, and
    (b) Notify the employer (Applicant) in writing of any conviction 
for a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace 
no later than five (5) calendar days after that conviction;
    (5) Notifying FTA in writing, within ten (10) calendar days after 
receiving notice required by paragraph (4)(b) above from an employee or 
otherwise receiving actual notice of that conviction. The Applicant, as 
employer of any convicted employee, must provide notice, including 
position title,

[[Page 65987]]

to every project officer or other designee on whose project activity 
the convicted employee was working. Notice shall include the 
identification number(s) of each affected grant;
    (6) Taking one of the following actions within thirty (30) calendar 
days of receiving notice under paragraph (4)(b) of this agreement with 
respect to any employee who is so convicted:

    (a) Taking appropriate personnel action against that employee, up 
to and including termination, consistent with the requirements of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, or
    (b) Requiring that employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug 
abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes 
by a Federal, state, or local health, law enforcement, or other 
appropriate agency; and
    (7) Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free 
workplace through implementation of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), 
and (6) of this agreement. The Applicant agrees to maintain a list 
identifying its headquarters location and each workplace it maintains 
in which project activities supported by FTA are conducted, and make 
that list readily accessible to FTA.
    C. Intergovernmental Review Assurance. The Applicant assures that 
each application for Federal assistance submitted to FTA has been or 
will be submitted, as required by each state, for intergovernmental 
review to the appropriate state and local agencies. Specifically, the 
Applicant assures that it has fulfilled or will fulfill the obligations 
imposed on FTA by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Department of Transportation Programs and Activities,'' 49 CFR part 17.
    D. Nondiscrimination Assurance. As required by 49 U.S.C. 5332 
(which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, 
national origin, sex, or age, and prohibits discrimination in 
employment or business opportunity), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, and U.S. DOT regulations, 
``Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs of the Department of 
Transportation--Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,'' 49 
CFR part 21 at 21.7, the Applicant assures that it will comply with all 
requirements of 49 CFR part 21; FTA Circular 4702.1, ``Title VI Program 
Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients'', and other 
applicable directives, so that no person in the United States, on the 
basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, or age will be 
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise 
be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity (particularly 
in the level and quality of transportation services and transportation-
related benefits) for which the Applicant receives Federal assistance 
awarded by the U.S. DOT or FTA as follows:
    (1) The Applicant assures that each project will be conducted, 
property acquisitions will be undertaken, and project facilities will 
be operated in accordance with all applicable requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
5332 and 49 CFR part 21, and understands that this assurance extends to 
its entire facility and to facilities operated in connection with the 
project.
    (2) The Applicant assures that it will take appropriate action to 
ensure that any transferee receiving property financed with Federal 
assistance derived from FTA will comply with the applicable 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5332 and 49 CFR part 21.
    (3) The Applicant assures that it will promptly take the necessary 
actions to effectuate this assurance, including notifying the public 
that complaints of discrimination in the provision of transportation-
related services or benefits may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA. Upon 
request by U.S. DOT or FTA, the Applicant assures that it will submit 
the required information pertaining to its compliance with these 
requirements.
    As required by 49 U.S.C. 5332 (which prohibits discrimination on 
the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age, and 
prohibits discrimination in employment or business opportunity), Title 
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, and 
U.S. DOT regulations, ``Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted 
Programs of the Department of Transportation--Effectuation of Title VI 
of the Civil Rights Act,'' 49 CFR part 21 at 21.7, the Applicant 
assures that it will comply with all requirements of 49 CFR part 21; 
FTA Circular 4702.1, ``Title VI Program Guidelines for Federal Transit 
Administration Recipients'', and other applicable directives, so that 
no person in the United States, on the basis of race, color, national 
origin, creed, sex, or age will be excluded from participation in, be 
denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in 
any program or activity (particularly in the level and quality of 
transportation services and transportation-related benefits) for which 
the Applicant receives Federal assistance awarded by the U.S. DOT or 
FTA as follows:
    (1) The Applicant assures that each project will be conducted, 
property acquisitions will be undertaken, and project facilities will 
be operated in accordance with all applicable requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
5332 and 49 CFR part 21, and understands that this assurance extends to 
its entire facility and to facilities operated in connection with the 
project.
    (2) The Applicant assures that it will take appropriate action to 
ensure that any transferee receiving property financed with Federal 
assistance derived from FTA will comply with the applicable 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5332 and 49 CFR part 21.
    (3) The Applicant assures that it will promptly take the necessary 
actions to effectuate this assurance, including notifying the public 
that complaints of discrimination in the provision of transportation-
related services or benefits may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA. Upon 
request by U.S. DOT or FTA, the Applicant assures that it will submit 
the required information pertaining to its compliance with these 
requirements.
    (4) The Applicant assures that it will make any changes in its 49 
U.S.C. 5332 and Title VI implementing procedures as U.S. DOT or FTA may 
request.
    (5) As required by 49 CFR 21.7(a)(2), the Applicant will include in 
each third party contract or subagreement provisions to invoke the 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5332 and 49 CFR part 21, and include 
provisions to invoke those requirements in deeds and instruments 
recording the transfer of real property, structures, improvements.
    E. Assurance of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability. As 
required by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 
Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from 
Federal Financial Assistance,'' at 49 CFR part 27, implementing the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Applicant assures that, as a 
condition to the approval or extension of any Federal assistance 
awarded by FTA to construct any facility, obtain any rolling stock or 
other equipment, undertake studies, conduct research, or to participate 
in or obtain any benefit from any program administered by FTA, no 
otherwise qualified person with a disability shall be, solely by reason 
of that disability, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits 
of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program or activity 
receiving or benefiting from Federal assistance administered by the FTA 
or any entity within U.S. DOT. The Applicant assures that project 
implementation and

[[Page 65988]]

operations so assisted will comply with all applicable requirements of 
U.S. DOT regulations implementing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended, 29 U.S.C. 794, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. at 49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 
38, and any applicable regulations and directives issued by other 
Federal departments or agencies.
5. Certifications Prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget 
(SF-424B and SF-424D) The Applicant certifies that it:
    (a) Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance and the 
institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including funds 
sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project cost) to ensure 
proper planning, management, and completion of the project described in 
its application.
    (b) Will give FTA, the Comptroller General of the United States 
and, if appropriate, the state, through any authorized representative, 
access to and the right to examine all records, books, papers, or 
documents related to the award; and will establish a proper accounting 
system in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or 
agency directives.
    (c) Will establish safeguard to prohibit employees from using their 
positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the appearance of 
personal or organizational conflict of interest or personal gain.
    (d) Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable 
project time periods following receipt of FTA approval.
    (e) Will comply with all statutes relating to nondiscrimination 
including, but not limited to:
    (1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, which 
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national 
origin;
    (2) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, 20 
U.S.C. 1681, 1683, and 1685 through 1687, which prohibits 
discrimination on the basis of sex;
    (3) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 
U.S.C. 794, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicaps;
    (4) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6101 
through 6107, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of age;
    (5) The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972, Pub. L. 92-
255, March 21, 1972, and amendments thereto, relating to 
nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse;
    (6) The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention Act 
of 1970, Pub. L. 91-616, Dec. 31, 1970, and amendments thereto, 
relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol abuse or 
alcoholism;
    (7) The Public Health Service Act of 1912, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
290dd-3 and 290ee-3, related to confidentiality of alcohol and drug 
abuse patient records;
    (8) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq., 
relating to nondiscrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of 
housing;
    (9) Any other nondiscrimination provisions in the specific statutes 
under which Federal assistance for the project may be provided 
including, but not limited to section 1101(b) of the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st Century, 23 U.S.C. 101 note, which provides for 
participation of disadvantaged business enterprises in FTA programs; 
and
    (10) The requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) 
that may apply to the project.
    (f) Will comply, or has complied, with the requirements of Titles 
II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, (Uniform Relocation Act) 
42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq., which provide for fair and equitable treatment 
of persons displaced or whose property is acquired as a result of 
Federal and federally-assisted programs. These requirements apply to 
all interests in real property acquired for project purposes regardless 
of Federal participation in purchases. As required by U.S. DOT 
regulations, ``Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs,'' at 49 CFR 
24.4, and sections 210 and 305 of the Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. 
4630 and 4655, the Applicant assures that it has the requisite 
authority under applicable state and local law and will comply or has 
complied with the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. 
4601 et seq., and U.S. DOT regulations, ``Uniform Relocation Assistance 
and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted 
Programs,'' 49 CFR part 24 including, but not limited to the following:

    (1) The Applicant will adequately inform each affected person of 
the benefits, policies, and procedures provided for in 49 CFR part 24;
    (2) The Applicant will provide fair and reasonable relocation 
payments and assistance required by 42 U.S.C. 4622, 4623, and 4624; 49 
CFR part 24; and any applicable FTA procedures, to or for families, 
individuals, partnerships, corporations or associations displaced as a 
result of any project financed with FTA assistance;
    (3) The Applicant will provide relocation assistance programs 
offering the services described in 42 U.S.C. 4625 to such displaced 
families, individuals, partnerships, corporations, or associations in 
the manner provided in 49 CFR part 24 and FTA procedures;
    (4) Within a reasonable time before displacement, the Applicant 
will make available comparable replacement dwellings to displaced 
families and individuals as required by 42 U.S.C. 4625(c)(3);
    (5) The Applicant will carry out the relocation process in such a 
manner as to provide displaced persons with uniform and consistent 
services, and will make available replacement housing in the same range 
of choices with respect to such housing to all displaced persons 
regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin; and
    (6) In acquiring real property, the Applicant will be guided to the 
greatest extent practicable under state law, by the real property 
acquisition policies of 42 U.S.C. 4651 and 4652;
    (7) The Applicant will pay or reimburse property owners for 
necessary expenses as specified in 42 U.S.C. 4653 and 4654, with the 
understanding that FTA will participate in the Applicant's eligible 
costs of providing payments for those expenses as required by 42 U.S.C. 
4631;
    (8) The Applicant will execute such amendments to third party 
contracts and subagreements financed with FTA assistance and execute, 
furnish, and be bound by such additional documents as FTA may determine 
necessary to effectuate or implement the assurances provided herein; 
and
    (9) The Applicant agrees to make these assurances part of or 
incorporate them by reference into any third party contract or 
subagreement, or any amendments thereto, relating to any project 
financed by FTA involving relocation or land acquisition and provide in 
any affected document that these relocation and land acquisition 
provisions shall supersede any conflicting provisions.
    (g) To the extent applicable, will comply with provisions of the 
Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. 1501 through 1508, and 7324 through 7326, which 
limit the political activities of state and local agencies and their 
officers and employees whose principal employment activities are 
financed in whole or part with Federal funds including a Federal loan, 
grant, or cooperative agreement, but pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 142(g), does

[[Page 65989]]

not apply to a nonsupervisory employee of a transit system (or of any 
other agency or entity performing related functions) receiving FTA 
assistance to whom the Hatch Act does not otherwise apply.
    (h) To the extent applicable, will comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, 
as amended, 40 U.S.C. 276a through 276a(7), the Copeland Act, as 
amended, 18 U.S.C. 874 and 40 U.S.C. 276c, and the Contract Work Hours 
and Safety Standards Act, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 327 through 333, 
regarding labor standards for federally-assisted subagreements.
    (i) To the extent applicable, will comply with flood insurance 
purchase requirements of section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster 
Protection Act of 1973, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4012a(a), requiring 
recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the program 
and purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable 
construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more.
    (j) Will comply with environmental standards that may be prescribed 
to implement the following Federal laws and executive orders:
    (1) Institution of environmental quality control measures under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq. and Executive Order No. 11514, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 note;
    (2) Notification of violating facilities pursuant to Executive 
Order No. 11738, 42 U.S.C. 7606 note;
    (3) Protection of wetlands pursuant to Executive Order No. 11990, 
42 U.S.C. 4321 note;
    (4) Evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with 
Executive Order 11988, 42 U.S.C. 4321 note;
    (5) Assurance of project consistency with the approved State 
management program developed pursuant to the requirements of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.
    (6) Conformity of Federal actions to State (Clean Air) 
Implementation Plans under section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act of 1955, 
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.;
    (7) Protection of underground sources of drinking water under the 
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 300h et seq.;
    (8) Protection of endangered species under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended, Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; and
    (9) Environmental protections for Federal transit programs, 
including, but not limited to protections for a park, recreation area, 
or wildlife or waterfowl refuge of national, state, or local 
significance or any land from a historic site of national, state, or 
local significance used in a transit project as required by 49 U.S.C. 
303.

    (k) Will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as 
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq. relating to protecting components of 
the national wild and scenic rivers systems.
    (l) Will assist FTA in assuring compliance with section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 470f, 
Executive Order No. 11593 (identification and protection of historic 
properties), 16 U.S.C. 470 note, and the Archaeological and Historic 
Preservation Act of 1974, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 469a-1 et seq.
    (m) Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, 
42 U.S.C. 4801, which prohibits the use of lead-based paint in 
construction or rehabilitation of residence structures.
    (n) Will not dispose of, modify the use of, or change the terms of 
the real property title, or other interest in the site and facilities 
on which a construction project supported with FTA assistance takes 
place without permission and instructions from the awarding agency.
    (o) Will record the Federal interest in the title of real property 
in accordance with FTA directives and will include a covenant in the 
title of real property acquired in whole or in part with Federal 
assistance funds to assure nondiscrimination during the useful life of 
the project.
    (p) Will comply with FTA requirements concerning the drafting, 
review, and approval of construction plans and specifications of any 
construction project supported with FTA assistance. As required by U.S. 
DOT regulations, ``Seismic Safety,'' 49 CFR 41.117(d), before accepting 
delivery of any building financed with FTA assistance, it will obtain a 
certificate of compliance with the seismic design and construction 
requirements of 49 CFR part 41.
    (q) Will provide and maintain competent and adequate engineering 
supervision at the construction site of any project supported with FTA 
assistance to ensure that the complete work conforms with the approved 
plans and specifications and will furnish progress reports and such 
other information as may be required by FTA or the State.
    (r) Will comply with the National Research Act, Pub. L. 93-348, 
July 12, 1974, as amended, regarding the protection of human subjects 
involved in research, development, and related activities supported by 
Federal assistance and DOT regulation, ``Protection of Human 
Subjects,'' 49 CFR part 11.
    (s) Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966, as 
amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq. pertaining to the care, handling, and 
treatment of warm blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other 
activities supported by FTA assistance.
    (t) Will have performed the financial and compliance audits 
required by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 7501 et 
seq. and OMB Circular No. A-133, ``Audits of States, Local Governments, 
and Non-Profit Organizations and Department of Transportation 
provisions of OMB A-133 Compliance Supplement, March 2000.''
    (u) Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other 
Federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies governing the 
project.
6. Lobbying Certification for an Application Exceeding $100,000
    An Applicant that submits, or intends to submit this fiscal year, 
an application for Federal assistance exceeding $100,000 must provide 
the following certification. Consequently, FTA may not provide Federal 
assistance for an application exceeding $100,000 until the Applicant 
provides this certification by selecting category ``II'' on the 
Signature Page at the end of this document.
    (a) As required by U.S. DOT regulations, ``New Restrictions on 
Lobbying,'' at 49 CFR 20.110, the Applicant's authorized representative 
certifies to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that for each 
application for a Federal assistance exceeding $100,000:
    (1) No Federal appropriated funds have been or will be paid, by or 
on behalf of the Applicant, to any person for influencing or attempting 
to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of 
Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a 
Member of Congress pertaining to the award of any Federal assistance, 
or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of 
any Federal assistance agreement; and
    (2) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been or 
will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence 
an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer 
or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member

[[Page 65990]]

of Congress in connection with any application to FTA for Federal 
assistance, the Applicant assures that it will complete and submit 
Standard Form-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' including 
the information required by the form's instructions, which may be 
amended to omit such information as permitted by 31 U.S.C. 1352.
    (b) The Applicant understands that this certification is a material 
representation of fact upon which reliance is placed and that 
submission of this certification is a prerequisite for providing 
Federal assistance for a transaction covered by 31 U.S.C. 1352. The 
Applicant also understands that any person who fails to file a required 
certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than 
$10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

II. Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application

    FTA is conducting a national solicitation for applications under 
the OTRB Accessibility program. Grant awards will be made on a 
competitive basis. Applicants should submit 3 copies of their project 
proposal application, consistent with the application format provided 
at Appendix A, to the appropriate regional office. Project proposal 
applications must be received by FTA no later than February 2, 2004. 
The OTRB operators should submit the application to the office in the 
region in which its headquarters office is located (see Appendix B). 
The application should provide information on all items for which you 
are requesting funding in FY 2004. The application must include the 
following elements:

1. Applicant Information

    This addresses basic identifying information, including:
    a. Company name and Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number.
    b. Contact information for notification of project selection: 
Contact name, address, fax and phone number.
    c. Description of services provided by company.
    d. For fixed-route carriers, whether you are a large (Class I, with 
gross annual operating revenues of $5.3 million or more) or small 
(gross operating revenues of less than $5.3 million annually) carrier.
    e. Existing fleet and employee information, including number of 
over-the-road buses used for intercity fixed-route service and other 
service and number of employees.
    f. Estimate of the proportion of service, if any, that is intercity 
fixed-route.
    g. Description of your technical, legal, and financial capacity to 
implement the proposed project.

2. Project Information

    Every application must:
    a. Provide the Federal amount requested for each purpose for which 
funds are sought.
    b. How intercity fixed-route service meets the definition of 
intercity fixed-route service, including how service makes meaningful 
connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more distant 
points.
    c. Document matching funds, including amount and source.
    d. Describe project, including components to be funded, i.e., 
lifts, tie-downs, moveable seats, etc., and/or training.
    e. Provide project time-line, including significant milestones such 
as date or contract for purchase of vehicle(s), and actual or expected 
delivery date of vehicles.
    f. Address each of the five statutory evaluation criteria.
    g. Complete Standard Form 424, ``Application For Federal 
Assistance''.
    3. Labor Information
    a. Identify any labor organizations that may represent your 
employees and all labor organizations that represent the employees of 
any transit providers in the service area of the project. For each 
local of a nationally affiliated union, the applicant must provide the 
name of the national organization and the number or other designation 
of the local union. (For example, Amalgamated Transit Union local 
1258.) Since DOL makes its referral to the national union's 
headquarters, there is no need to provide a means of contacting the 
local organization.
    b. For each independent labor organization (i.e., a union that is 
not affiliated with a national or international organization) the local 
information will be necessary (name of organization, address, contact 
person, phone, fax numbers).
    c. Where a labor organization represents transit employees in the 
service area of the project, DOL must refer the proposed protective 
arrangements to each union and to each recipient. For this reason, 
please provide DOL with a contact person, address, telephone number and 
fax number for your company and associated union information.

III. Grant Application Review Process

    Applications are to be submitted to the appropriate FTA Regional 
Office by the close of business on February 2, 2004. FTA will screen 
all applications to determine whether all required eligibility 
elements, as described in Section 2 of the application, are present. An 
FTA evaluation team will evaluate each application according to the 
criteria described in this announcement.

Notification

    FTA expects to notify all applicants, both those selected for 
funding and those not selected, in summer 2004. Projects selected for 
funding will be published in a Federal Register notice.

    Issued on: November 17, 2003.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.

Appendix A--Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Project Proposal 
Application (Paper)

1. Applicant Information
    A. Company Name:
    B. DUNS Number:
    C. For Notification of Project Selection Contact:
    Name of Individual:
    Address:
    Telephone number:
    D. Describe Services Provided by Company, including Areas 
Served:
    E. Intercity Fixed-Route Carriers:

----Large/Class I (gross annual operating revenues of $5.3 Million 
or more)
----Small (gross annual revenues of less than $5.3 Million)

    F. Existing Fleet and Employee Information:
----Over-the-road Buses in fleet used for Intercity Fixed-
route Service
---- Over-the-road have lifts buses currently
----Over-the-road Buses in fleet used for Other Service, 
e.g., Charter, Tour, & Commuter
----Over-the-road Buses currently have lifts
----Employees
    G. If you provide both intercity fixed-route service and another 
type of service, such as commuter, charter or tour service, please 
provide an estimate of the proportion of your service that is 
intercity.

----% of services is intercity fixed-route.

    H. Describe your technical, legal, and financial capacity to 
implement the proposed project.
2. Project Information
    A. Federal Amount Requested (Up to 90% Federal Share):

Intercity Fixed Route Service:

$---- for  ---- New Over-the-road Buses
$---- for  ---- Retrofits
$---- for  ---- Employees--Training

    If funds are being requested for intercity fixed-route services, 
please describe how the service meets the definition of intercity 
fixed-route service, including how the service makes meaningful 
connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more distant 
points.

[[Page 65991]]

Other Service (Commuter, Charter, or Tour)

$---- for  ---- New Over-the-road Buses
$---- for  ---- Retrofits
$---- for  ---- Employees--Training

    B. Document Matching Funds, including Amount and Source:
    C. Describe Project, including Components to be funded, i.e., 
Lifts, Tie-downs, Moveable Seats, etc. and/or Training:
    D. Provide Project Time Line, including Significant Milestones 
such as Date of Contract for Purchase of Vehicle(s), and actual or 
expected delivery date of vehicles:
    E. Project Evaluation Criteria--Projects will be evaluated 
according to the following criteria:
    The identified need for over-the-road bus accessibility for 
persons with disabilities in the areas served by the applicant. (20 
points)
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrated innovative 
strategies and financial commitment to providing access to over-the-
road buses to persons with disabilities. (20 points)
    The extent to which the over-the-road bus operator acquired 
equipment required by DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility rule 
prior to the required time-frame in the rule. (20 points)
    The extent to which financing the costs of complying with DOT's 
rule presents a financial hardship for the applicant. (20 points)
    The impact of accessibility requirements on the continuation of 
over-the-road bus service with particular consideration of the 
impact of the requirements on service to rural areas and for low-
income individuals. (20 points)

Appendix B--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, One Bowling Green, 
Room 429, New York, NY 10004-1415, (212) 668-2170

Region III--Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, 
Washington, DC

Herman Shipman, Acting 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

Jerry Franklin, 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, 
24th Floor, Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606-5232, (312) 353-2789

Region VI--Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma

Robert Patrick, FTA Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street, Room 
8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-0550

Region VII--Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri

Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional Administrator, 901 Locust Street, Suite 404, 
Kansas City, MO 64106, (816) 329-3920

Region VIII--Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, 
Utah

Lee Waddleton, 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

Richard Krochalis, FTA Regional Administrator, Jackson Federal 
Building, 915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174-1002, 
(206) 220-7954

[FR Doc. 03-29238 Filed 11-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P