[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79086-79090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27157]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)


Announcement of Fiscal Year 2016 Rides to Wellness Demonstration 
and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants Competitive 
Program Project Selections

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) announces the selection of Rides to Wellness 
Demonstration and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Program 
(R2W Program) projects, with $7.2 million of funding from two programs: 
Section 3006(b) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act 
(FAST), Public Law 114-94, which authorized a pilot program for 
innovative coordinated access and mobility at $2 million; and $5.3 
million from 49 U.S.C. 5312 (Section 5312). On March 29, 2016, FTA 
published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (81 FR 17549) 
announcing the availability of Federal funding for the R2W Program. 
These program funds will provide financial assistance to States and 
Designated or Direct Recipients to test promising, replicable public 
transportation healthcare access solutions that support the following 
goals: Increased access to care, improved health outcomes and reduced 
healthcare costs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Successful applicants should contact 
the appropriate FTA Regional Office for information regarding applying 
for the funds or program-specific information. A list of Regional 
Offices can be found at www.transit.dot.gov. Unsuccessful applicants 
may contact Danielle Nelson, Office of Program Management at (202) 366-
2160, email: [email protected], to arrange a proposal debriefing 
within 30 days of this announcement. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-
8339 (TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to the NOFO, FTA received 78

[[Page 79087]]

project proposals requesting $28 million from 34 states. Project 
proposals were evaluated based on each applicant's responsiveness to 
the program evaluation criteria outlined in the NOFO. FTA is funding 19 
projects, as shown here: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/fy-2016-rides-wellness-demonstration-and-innovative-coordinated-access-and-mobility and in Table 1, for a total of $7,211,518. Recipients 
selected for competitive funding should work with their FTA Regional 
Office to submit a grant application in FTA's Transit Award Management 
System (TrAMs) for the projects identified in the attached table. Funds 
must be used consistent with the competitive proposal and for the 
eligible purposes established in the NOFO and described in the FTA 
Circular 9070.1G.
    Recipients are reminded that program requirements such as cost 
sharing or local match can be found in the NOFO. A discretionary 
project identification number has been assigned to each project for 
tracking purposes and must be used in the TrAMs application.
    Selected projects are eligible to incur costs under pre-award 
authority no earlier than the date projects were publicly announced, 
September 12, 2016. Pre-award authority does not guarantee that project 
expenses incurred prior to the award of a grant will be eligible for 
reimbursement, as eligibility for reimbursement is contingent upon 
other requirements. For more about FTA's policy on pre-award authority, 
please see the FTA Fiscal Year 2016 Apportionments, Allocations, and 
Program Information and Interim Guidance found in 81 FR 7893 (February 
16, 2016). Post-award reporting requirements include submission of the 
Federal Financial Report and Milestone progress reports in TrAMs as 
appropriate (see FTA.C.5010.1D). Recipients must comply with all 
applicable Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, FTA 
circulars, and other Federal requirements in carrying out the project 
supported by the FTA grant. FTA emphasizes that recipients must follow 
all third-party procurement guidance, as described in FTA.C.4220.1F. 
Funds allocated in this announcement must be obligated in a grant by 
September 30, 2018.

Carolyn Flowers,
Acting Administrator.

                                       Table 1--FY 16 Grants for Rides to Wellness Competition Project Selections
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               State                        Recipient                      Project ID                        Project description            Allocation
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MD.................................  Maryland Transit        D2016-RTWD-001                         The Maryland Transit Administration         $103,334
                                      Administration.                                                will receive $103,344 to increase
                                                                                                     the capacity of a mobility
                                                                                                     management program that addresses
                                                                                                     barriers for low-income individuals
                                                                                                     in Allegany County western Maryland
                                                                                                     who lack reliable access to
                                                                                                     transportation to receive non-
                                                                                                     emergency medical care. The
                                                                                                     program, which will be updated with
                                                                                                     transportation coordination
                                                                                                     software, coordinates and provides
                                                                                                     transportation to and from non-
                                                                                                     emergency medical appointments at
                                                                                                     no cost to the individuals.
CA.................................  Riverside County        D2016-RTWD-002                         Riverside County Transportation              185,753
                                      Transportation                                                 Commission and its partner
                                      Commission.                                                    organizations will receive $185,753
                                                                                                     for the Blythe Wellness Express, a
                                                                                                     program that provides access to
                                                                                                     preventative healthcare for South
                                                                                                     California residents. This travel
                                                                                                     navigator/mobility management
                                                                                                     coordination project will address
                                                                                                     access to services in an
                                                                                                     underserved area and involve staff
                                                                                                     from the public transit agency,
                                                                                                     healthcare providers and community
                                                                                                     volunteers. An evaluation piece
                                                                                                     will document health-related
                                                                                                     outcomes.
PA.................................  Pennsylvania            D2016-RTWD-003                         The Pennsylvania Department of             1,190,000
                                      Department of                                                  Transportation will receive
                                      Transportation.                                                $1,190,000 to fund FindMyRidePA. a
                                                                                                     one-call, one-click center and real-
                                                                                                     time transportation service serving
                                                                                                     a three-county area in central
                                                                                                     Pennsylvania. Building off the one-
                                                                                                     call center concept developed from
                                                                                                     an FTA-funded Veterans
                                                                                                     Transportation and Community Living
                                                                                                     Initiative project, the project
                                                                                                     will address the challenge of
                                                                                                     missed health appointments due to a
                                                                                                     lack of transportation in a
                                                                                                     targeted community, then scale it
                                                                                                     for deployment in other areas of
                                                                                                     the state.
IL.................................  Rides Mass Transit      D2016-RTWD-004                         Rides Mass Transit District of               518,844
                                      District.                                                      Illinois will receive $518,844 to
                                                                                                     establish a ``one-call'' center,
                                                                                                     expand mobility management services
                                                                                                     for patients at risk of re-
                                                                                                     hospitalization, and initiate
                                                                                                     transportation coordination for
                                                                                                     patients seeking drug abuse and
                                                                                                     mental health services in southern
                                                                                                     Illinois with a high rate of mental
                                                                                                     health and substance abuse and a
                                                                                                     disproportionately low number of
                                                                                                     healthcare providers. The project
                                                                                                     is intended to close the gap in
                                                                                                     access to mental health for
                                                                                                     patients due to transportation
                                                                                                     challenges in rural areas and
                                                                                                     builds on a 2015 FTA-funded Rides
                                                                                                     to Wellness Healthcare Access
                                                                                                     Challenge Grant.

[[Page 79088]]

 
MI.................................  Michigan Department of  D2016-RTWR-001-001                     The Michigan Department of                 1,006,387
                                      Transportation.                                                Transportation will receive $1
                                                                                                     million to expand a brokerage-based
                                                                                                     program currently only available in
                                                                                                     certain parts of the state to a
                                                                                                     statewide model. The program
                                                                                                     manages and delivers non-emergency
                                                                                                     medical transportation for older
                                                                                                     adults, people with low incomes,
                                                                                                     and people with disabilities,
                                                                                                     ensuring they have access to non-
                                                                                                     emergency healthcare. The
                                                                                                     coordination software records trips
                                                                                                     reserved by county in each region
                                                                                                     based on trip types, procedures and
                                                                                                     clinic visits. Local health centers
                                                                                                     will integrate the software and
                                                                                                     refer clients to the service.
VT.................................  Vermont Agency of       D2016-RTWR-001-002                     The Vermont Agency of Transportation         170,000
                                      Transportation.                                                will receive $170,000 to develop a
                                                                                                     program to train staff at Community
                                                                                                     Health Services to act as mobility
                                                                                                     managers to help individuals in the
                                                                                                     Ascutney, Windsor and St. Johnsbury
                                                                                                     regions of Vermont schedule and
                                                                                                     attend medical appointments. This
                                                                                                     will lead to better health
                                                                                                     outcomes, a reduction in missed
                                                                                                     appointments, and a reduction in
                                                                                                     the use of emergency services for
                                                                                                     routine medical care. Modeled on a
                                                                                                     program in another region of
                                                                                                     Vermont, the mobility managers will
                                                                                                     help patients, medical providers
                                                                                                     and social service agencies
                                                                                                     identify individuals most at risk
                                                                                                     and provide alternative
                                                                                                     transportation options via local
                                                                                                     transit providers.
MI.................................  Flint Mass              D2016-RTWR-001-003                     The Flint Mass Transportation                310,040
                                      Transportation                                                 Authority will receive $310,040 to
                                      Authority.                                                     develop a mobility management
                                                                                                     program, including coordinated non-
                                                                                                     emergency medical transportation,
                                                                                                     trip planning and training. The
                                                                                                     program will provide rides to
                                                                                                     wellness appointments for
                                                                                                     behavioral health patients,
                                                                                                     dialysis patients, and primary/
                                                                                                     urgent care for families, and
                                                                                                     elderly and elderly disabled
                                                                                                     patients in Flint and nearby
                                                                                                     Genesee County, both of which are
                                                                                                     impacted by Flint's municipal water
                                                                                                     crisis. Building on a 2015 FTA-
                                                                                                     funded Healthcare Access Mobility
                                                                                                     Design Challenge Grant, the project
                                                                                                     will improve local coordination and
                                                                                                     access in the community.
MA.................................  Montachusett Regional   D2016-RTWR-001-004                     Montachusett Regional Transit                200,000
                                      Transit Authority.                                             Authority will receive $200,000 to
                                                                                                     implement a technology that
                                                                                                     analyzes routing and dispatching
                                                                                                     among several providers to
                                                                                                     integrate management of rides to
                                                                                                     healthcare in western Massachusetts
                                                                                                     and boost under-used fixed route
                                                                                                     and paratransit services. The
                                                                                                     software will allow paratransit and
                                                                                                     Council on Aging systems to bid on
                                                                                                     demand response, long-term and
                                                                                                     shared ride contracts so people
                                                                                                     seeking fixed route, paratransit
                                                                                                     and senior ride services can
                                                                                                     request additional rides or mix
                                                                                                     rides to maximize efficiencies. The
                                                                                                     software also will determine if a
                                                                                                     provider has the capacity to
                                                                                                     deliver service.
FL.................................  Jacksonville            D2016-RTWR-001-005                     The Jacksonville Transportation              399,200
                                      Transportation                                                 Authority will receive $399,200 to
                                      Authority.                                                     develop a software interface
                                                                                                     connecting medical scheduling
                                                                                                     programs and transit schedules to
                                                                                                     generate transit travel times and
                                                                                                     costs for healthcare receptionists
                                                                                                     and patients as they choose
                                                                                                     appointments. With the potential to
                                                                                                     link a large number of healthcare
                                                                                                     providers to mobility management
                                                                                                     nationally, the project will
                                                                                                     provide a pilot data set to prove
                                                                                                     the value of linking transportation
                                                                                                     options with medical appointments.
TN.................................  Knoxville Area Transit  D2016-RTWR-001-006                     Knoxville Area Transit will receive          200,000
                                                                                                     $200,000 to expand its 2-1-1 call
                                                                                                     center as a single point of entry
                                                                                                     for older adults and people with
                                                                                                     disabilities to access transit to
                                                                                                     healthcare facilities in the
                                                                                                     region. The project will improve
                                                                                                     local coordination and access in
                                                                                                     the community and train public
                                                                                                     information staff, healthcare
                                                                                                     providers and residents on how to
                                                                                                     use KAT buses.
GA.................................  Atlanta Regional        D2016-RTWR-001-007                     The Atlanta Regional Commission will         337,628
                                      Commission.                                                    receive $337,628 to provide travel
                                                                                                     training, free transit passes over
                                                                                                     a six-month period, and paratransit
                                                                                                     or reduced fare enrollment
                                                                                                     assistance to at least 200
                                                                                                     individuals to be selected from
                                                                                                     four area health centers. The
                                                                                                     program will address the difficulty
                                                                                                     in accessing medical services via
                                                                                                     paratransit by bolstering a travel
                                                                                                     training and mobility management
                                                                                                     effort and leveraging creative
                                                                                                     community partnerships. A regional
                                                                                                     summit will explore future
                                                                                                     opportunities for collaboration,
                                                                                                     identify barriers and propose
                                                                                                     solutions.

[[Page 79089]]

 
NY.................................  Niagara Frontier        D2016-RTWR-001-008                     The Niagara Frontier Transportation          468,566
                                      Transportation                                                 Authority will receive $468,566 to
                                      Authority.                                                     fund transportation to prenatal
                                                                                                     healthcare appointments for low-
                                                                                                     income, high-risk pregnant women in
                                                                                                     Buffalo, NY. The project provides
                                                                                                     participants with a transit pass as
                                                                                                     well as guidance on how to use the
                                                                                                     public transportation system for
                                                                                                     healthcare appointments. The
                                                                                                     project concept was formed through
                                                                                                     a HUD Sustainable Communities
                                                                                                     Initiative and a 2015 FTA-funded
                                                                                                     Healthcare Access Mobility Design
                                                                                                     Challenge grant.
CA.................................  San Diego Association   D2016-RTWR-001-009                     The San Diego Association of                 160,000
                                      of Governments.                                                Governments will receive $160,000
                                                                                                     to coordinate rides for patients,
                                                                                                     both those traveling from emergency
                                                                                                     rooms to hospitals for admission
                                                                                                     and discharged patients traveling
                                                                                                     to pharmacies, treatments or their
                                                                                                     homes. The project will apply
                                                                                                     mobility management as part of
                                                                                                     hospital discharge planning,
                                                                                                     helping patients learn about how to
                                                                                                     attend healthcare appointments as
                                                                                                     well as wellness activities using
                                                                                                     public transportation.
MI.................................  Detroit Department of   D2016-RTWR-001-010                     The Detroit Department of                    509,475
                                      Transportation.                                                Transportation will receive
                                                                                                     $509,475 to increase mobility for
                                                                                                     older adults, particularly city
                                                                                                     residents with lower incomes and/or
                                                                                                     disabilities, to non-emergency
                                                                                                     medical care. The project will use
                                                                                                     scheduling software that improves
                                                                                                     efficiency and coordination between
                                                                                                     transportation and healthcare
                                                                                                     providers, as well as offer
                                                                                                     transportation to health/wellness/
                                                                                                     prevention activities such as
                                                                                                     recreation centers, parks, and
                                                                                                     farmers markets.
IA.................................  Iowa Department of      D2016-RTWR-001-011                     The Iowa Department of                       130,560
                                      Transportation.                                                Transportation will receive
                                                                                                     $130,560 for the Delaware County
                                                                                                     Connections Program, a rural,
                                                                                                     volunteer-based transit service
                                                                                                     that will improve the coordination
                                                                                                     of non-emergency medical
                                                                                                     transportation and provide
                                                                                                     healthcare access for people with
                                                                                                     low incomes, older adults and
                                                                                                     individuals with intellectual
                                                                                                     challenges. The project focuses on
                                                                                                     rides to wellness activities at
                                                                                                     senior centers, farmers markets and
                                                                                                     support groups.
NH.................................  New Hampshire           D2016-RTWR-001-012                     The New Hampshire Department of              182,880
                                      Department of                                                  Transportation will receive
                                      Transportation.                                                $182,880 to fund the Bridge to
                                                                                                     Integration Project, a technology
                                                                                                     that will bridge the gap between
                                                                                                     Medicaid-funded transportation
                                                                                                     brokers and NHDOT's coordination
                                                                                                     software vendor system, an
                                                                                                     innovation that will be tested at
                                                                                                     three pilot sites. The sites will
                                                                                                     test the new technology with the
                                                                                                     goal of increasing access to
                                                                                                     transportation for healthcare
                                                                                                     appointments for Medicaid
                                                                                                     recipients, older adults and people
                                                                                                     with disabilities. Under NH's
                                                                                                     managed care model authorized in
                                                                                                     2011, all Medicaid populations are
                                                                                                     to be enrolled in a managed care
                                                                                                     program. The result has been an
                                                                                                     increase in the Medicaid care
                                                                                                     management population. By
                                                                                                     partnering with the brokers and
                                                                                                     implementing a coordination
                                                                                                     software system, it will allow more
                                                                                                     efficient and effective
                                                                                                     coordination of transportation
                                                                                                     resources and assets throughout the
                                                                                                     state.
MO.................................  Bi-State Development    D2016-RTWR-001-013                     The Bi-State Development Agency of           940,251
                                      Agency.                                                        St. Louis, MO, will receive
                                                                                                     $940,251 for its Gateway Program,
                                                                                                     which features a public health
                                                                                                     mobile clinic that provides health
                                                                                                     screenings such as blood pressure
                                                                                                     and cholesterol tests at MetroLink
                                                                                                     Public Transportation Stations in
                                                                                                     north St. Louis County. This public
                                                                                                     transit and healthcare partnership
                                                                                                     creates a bridge between silos by
                                                                                                     serving the healthcare needs of
                                                                                                     public transit riders along their
                                                                                                     route. The program includes non-
                                                                                                     emergency medical transportation to
                                                                                                     and from appointments using transit
                                                                                                     subsidies, and is designed to
                                                                                                     provide underserved residents with
                                                                                                     a bridge in care until they are
                                                                                                     able to enroll in health insurance
                                                                                                     coverage options available through
                                                                                                     the Affordable Care Act.
OH.................................  Ohio Department of      D2016-RTWR-001-014                     The Ohio Department of                       133,000
                                      Transportation.                                                Transportation will receive
                                                                                                     $133,000 to fund the Mommy and Me
                                                                                                     Ride for Free program on behalf of
                                                                                                     the Hospital Council of Northwest
                                                                                                     Ohio. The project, which improves
                                                                                                     coordination and access in Lucas
                                                                                                     County by leveraging existing
                                                                                                     transportation options, will
                                                                                                     provide pregnant women and women
                                                                                                     with infants access to
                                                                                                     transportation. Using the TARPS and
                                                                                                     TARTA transit systems, women will
                                                                                                     increase their access to
                                                                                                     healthcare, leading to better birth
                                                                                                     outcomes and improved health status
                                                                                                     for both mother and baby.

[[Page 79090]]

 
NC.................................  Research Triangle       D2016-RTWR-001-015                     The Research Triangle Regional                65,600
                                      Regional Public                                                Public Transportation Authority of
                                      Transportation                                                 Durham, N.C., will receive $65,600
                                      Authority.                                                     to expand the Go Triangle Regional
                                                                                                     Call Center to improve coordinated
                                                                                                     transit planning and application
                                                                                                     assistance for paratransit riders
                                                                                                     who are low-income, uninsured or
                                                                                                     have mental health special needs.
                                                                                                     By co-locating paratransit mobility
                                                                                                     management services with fixed
                                                                                                     route mobility management services,
                                                                                                     the project will increase access to
                                                                                                     care. The project builds on a 2015
                                                                                                     FTA-funded Healthcare Access
                                                                                                     Challenge Grant that tested
                                                                                                     solutions for transportation for
                                                                                                     low income, uninsured, or Medicaid
                                                                                                     consumers of behavior healthcare
                                                                                                     and developed a plan to implement
                                                                                                     solutions.
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    Total: $7,211,518.

[FR Doc. 2016-27157 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-57-P