1

Overview

• FTA Leadership / Personnel Updates• Status of Highway Trust Fund • FY15 Appropriations• MAP-21Reauthorization• MAP-21 Implementation Update

– Planning, Safety, Asset Management

• NDOR Program Responsibilities• Bus Ladders of Opportunity Initiative

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FTA Leadership & Staff Updates

• Changes to Agency Leadership– Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan

is leading FTA– Chief Counsel Dorval Carter moved to

FTA’s front office

• Changes to Region VII Personnel– Mark Bechtel – Team Leader of Planning– John Lynch – Attorney– Paula Schwach – FTA TIFIA Counsel

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Nebraska’s Accomplishments

New Transit Facilities - ARRA• Dawson County (*now part of Kearney)• Kearney• North Platte• Phelps• Ponca Tribe• Scott’s Bluff • Sidney • Webster County

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Pending Capital Facility Projects

• Columbus bus storage facility (5311) • Saline County bus storage facility (5311)  • Ogallala bus storage facility (5311)  • Omaha Crossroads bus transfer center (5309)  • Creighton University intermodal bus center

(5309)• Omaha Bus Rapid Transit – Westroads Mall to

Downtown – requested FYTIGER 2014 construction funding.

• Lincoln - downtown intermodal bus center– Requested FYTIGER 2014 planning funding

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FTA Rural Funding for Nebraska

Available Funds to be Obligated

FTA ProgramFY2014 MAP-21

FY2013 MAP-21 FY2012

Section 5310 - Small Urban $100,939 $109,079 $837,429

Section 5310 - Rural $461,067 $463,394

Section 5311 $7,631,837 $7,555,916 $6,588,689

RTAP 5311(b)(3) $133,610 $132,291 $112,707

Section 5317 New Freedom - Rural NA NA $169,924

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GAO Study: Public Transportation: Federal Role Key to Rural and Tribal

Transit (June 2014)

• What GAO Found– Rural transit program funds essential to

sustaining transit– Without funds transit service would be reduced

or eliminated– FTA training on safety is useful.

• Operational and Funding Challenges– Difficult to hire and retain qualified drivers– Hard to secure local or state funds to meet

local match requirements.  

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GAO Study: Public Transportation: Federal Role Key to Rural and Tribal

Transit

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Section 5311 Ridership Data (FY2012)

REGULAR TRIPS

COORDINATED TRIPS REVENUE MILES REVENUE

HOURS

Nebraska 758,705 0 3,661,964 203,405

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Urban Operating Statistics

NTD DATA Omaha Lincoln

Service Area SQ Miles 178 88

Service Area Population 670,153 258,719

Passenger Miles FY 19,065,379 6,146,275

Unlinked Passenger Trips FY 4,356,810 2,254,762

Average Trip Length FY 17 12 Fares FY $ 4,921,346 $ 1,778,390

Operating Expenses FY $ 26,371,544 $ 11,012,583

Average Cost per Trip FY $ 40.00 $ 68.00

Average Fares per Trip FY $ 5.00 $ 6.00

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Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

(MAP-21)Signed into law by President Obama on

July 6, 2012Effective as of October 1, 2012Authorizes programs for two years,

through September 30, 2014FTA busy implementing changes In the meantime, reauthorization under

discussion

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Highway Trust Fund Solvency

Source: US DOT, http://www.dot.gov/highway-trust-fund-ticker

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Mass Transit Account Solvency

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Highway Trust Fund Solvency

MAP-21 Program

Implementation

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)• Comments due September 2, 2014• Make regulations consistent with MAP-21• Highlights:

– Public Transit Representation on MPOs in TMAs– New emphasis on the nonmetropolitan

transportation planning process and creation of regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO)

– Performance Based Planning

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

RulemakingTransit Representation

• Transit representation required on MPO Board for areas over 200,000 in population

• FTA issued policy guidance spring 2014

• Must be designated by October 1, 2014

• Must have equal decision-making rights and authorities

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MAP-21 Performance Management Framework

Transit Performance Management

• Identifies seven national goals (23 USC 150(b))

• Authorizes Secretary, with input, to establish performance measures and standards for

– 8 highway performance areas

– 2 transit performance areas

• State of Good Repair/Transit Asset Management

• Safety

• Requires states, MPOs, and public transportation agencies to set targets for each established performance measure

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking

• Performance-based Approach – State Requirements – To Be Undertaken by NDOR– NDOR establishes performance targets for USDOT

transportation system performance measures established under 23 U.S.C. 150(c) and 49 U.S.C. 5326 and 49 U.S.C. 5329 .

• NDOR develops targets used to track critical outcomes in State

• NDOR coordinates with MPOs and providers of public transportation in rural areas to ensure consistency in selection of performance targets

– NDOR integrates rural transit provider performance plans into the statewide transportation planning process

• Includes goals, objectives, performance measures, and targets

– NDOR considers measures and targets when developing policies, programs, and investment priorities in LRP and STIP

• Use to assess performance of transportation system

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking

• Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) (23 U.S.C. 135(m); 49 U.S.C. 5304(l)) – Optional – State Designation of RTPOs– States may establish and designate

RTPOs to enhance statewide planning – States without RTPOs shall cooperate

with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking

• RTPO Requirements: – Must be multi jurisdictional organization of

nonmetropolitan local officials and reps of local transportation systems

– Establish a policy committee, majority of which are non-metro local officials, and as appropriate, reps from the State, private business, transportation service providers, economic development practitioners and the public in the region. 135(m)(3)

– Establish a fiscal and administrative agent, such as an existing regional planning and development organization to provide professional planning, management, and administrative support

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MAP-21: Statewide & Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking

• RTPO Duties– Develop regional long-range multimodal transportation

plans and regional TIPs– Coordinate local planning, land use and economic

development – Provide technical assistance to local officials – Participate in National, multi-state, State policy and

planning development processes – Provide a forum for public participation in regional and

statewide planning – Share plans and programs with neighboring RTPOs and

MPOs and tribal organizations

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Transit Agency

FTA Performance Measures

Allocate Resources

Budget and Staff

Measure, Evaluate, and Report Results

Actual Performance Achieved

SGR Target

Evaluate Programs, Projects, and Strategies

NTD Asset Inventory and Assessment

Module (proposed)

State of Good Repair

Asset Management Plan• Policies, measures, and targets• Decision support tools• Investment prioritization

Asset Management and State of Good Repair

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Transit Agency

FTA Performance Measures

Allocate Resources

Budget and Staff

Measure, Evaluate, and Report Results

Actual Performance Achieved

Safety Target

Evaluate Programs, Projects and Strategies

Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan NTD Safety and

Security Module

State of Good Repair

Safety

State of Good Repair & Safety

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MAP-21: 2015 Planning Emphasis Areas

• MAP-21 Implementation – Transition to Performance Based

Planning

• Models of Regional Planning Cooperation – Promote cooperation and coordination

across MPO boundaries where appropriate to ensure a regional approach to transportation planning

• Ladders of Opportunity– As part of the transportation planning

process, identify transportation connectivity gaps in access to essential services

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Implementation of MAP-21 Safety Program

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Office of Transit Safety & Oversight (TSO) MAP-21 Implementation

• Strengthen FTA’s safety regulatory authority

• Adopt Safety Management Systems (SMS)

• Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TrACS)

• State Safety Oversight (SSO) Certification and Grant Program (*Rail)

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• FTA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on October 3, 2013 with comments due back on January 2, 2014.

• FTA will issue four separate NPRMs to implement the requirements of MAP-21:

Safety Regulatory Authority

National Safety Plan

• Establishes SMS as foundation for FTA’s safety regulatory framework

• Develops safety performance criteria and definition for State of Good Repair (SGR)

Transit Agency Safety Plan

• Introduces SMS into practice

• Agencies set performance targets for safety and SGR based on requirements in the National Safety Plan

Safety Certification

Training Program

• Introduces SMS concepts and provides training

• Improves technical competencies of safety oversight professionals

State Safety Oversight (SSO)

Program• Establishes new requirements for SSO Programs

• Integrates SMS and provides technical assistance to implement MAP-21 requirements

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Safety Management Systems (SMS)

For more information on SMS: http://www.fta.dot.gov/tso_15176.html

SMS is built on four pillars:

Safety Policy

• Delineates management and employee responsibilities for safety

• Ensures management is actively engaged in safety oversight

Safety Risk Management

• Identifies and evaluates safety risks

• Develops safety risk controls to minimize the exposure of the public, personnel, and property

Safety Assurance

• Monitors effectiveness of safety risk controls

Safety Promotion

• Includes training awareness & communication

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Proposed Interim Safety Certification Training

Provisions

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking• Comments were due June 30, 2014• MAP–21 requires FTA to establish a safety

certification training program for Federal, State, and other designated personnel directly responsible for safety oversight of public transportation systems. 49 U.S.C. 5329(c).

• FTA will establish a permanent training program through the rulemaking process.

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Bus Safety Resource Website

The FTA Bus Safety website includes helpful resources including SMS tools and templates, an SMS Gap Analysis Checklist, and e-learning opportunities.

http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/

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Bus and Bus Facilities Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative

• $100 Million - Competitive grant funds• Proposals due August 4th

• Urban & Rural• Connect disadvantaged and low-income

individuals, veterans, seniors, youths, and others with local workforce training, employment centers, healthcare, and other vital services.

• Connect more Americans with jobs

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Bus and Bus Facilities Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative

• Purchase, replace, or rehabilitate transit buses and vans

• Modernize or construct bus facilities (such as maintenance depots and intermodal facilities) in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

• 80 percent Federal/20 percent local match

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Bus and Bus Facilities Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative

• Proposals address “ladders of opportunity” criteria for riders, including:

– Enhancing access to work

– Supporting economic opportunities – Supporting partnerships and coordinated

planning

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FY2015 AppropriationsProgram FY'14

Current Funding

FY'15 US DOT Request

FY'15 Full House - Passed 229 to 192

FY'15 Senate Full Committee

Core Highway Program - Obligation Limit

$40.25B $47.32B $40.25B $40.25B

Transit Formula - including Bus and Bus Facilities

$8.6B $13.91B $8.6B $8.6B

Transit Capital Improvement Grants (New Starts/Small Starts/Core Capacity)

$1.94B plus unused prior year funding =$2.13B total

$2.5B $1.69B $2.16B

Airport Improvement (AIP) Grants

$3.35B $2.90B $3.35B $3.48B

TIGER Discretionary Grants

$600M $1.25B $100M $550M

Amtrak Total $1.39B $2.45B $1.19B $1.39BHigh Speed Rail $0 $0 $0 $0

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GROW AMERICA Act

• On April 29, 2014, US DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled the department’s $302 Billion, four year reauthorization proposal:

The GROW AMERICA Act

Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility,

Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities

throughout America

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GROW AMERICA ActNew Transit Programs:

Rapid Growth Area Transit Program

Provides capital funds on a competitive basis to help fast-growing communities introduce new bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as part of their transportation mix.

Local Hiring Allows the use of local hiring preferences for certain projects.

Fixing and Accelerating Surface Transportation (FAST)

$1B competitive program encourages the adoption of bold, innovative strategies and best practices in transportation that would have long-term impact on all projects across transportation programs.

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GROW AMERICA Act• Other Changes to Transit Programs:

– Bus and Bus Facilities Program: Removes statutory requirement that funds be channeled through a designated recipient, and instead allow State and local operators to receive funds directly from FTA.

– Strengthens Buy America requirements through annual increases in domestic content requirements.

– Makes improvements to FTA’s new Safety Program, including opt-out provision for State Safety Oversight program.

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GROW AMERICA Act

• Additional information on the GROW AMERICA Act can be obtained via the following resources:– Main Page:

http://www.dot.gov/grow-america– Bill Highlights:

http://www.dot.gov/grow-america/focus-areas

– FTA specific Provisions: http://www.dot.gov/grow-america/by-mode/transit

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GROW AMERICA Act

• The GROW AMERICA Act will increase transportation investment to support the needs of our Nation’s communities. – $199 billion to invest in our nation’s highway

system and road safety.– $72 billion to invest in transit systems and

expand transportation options. – Tools and resources to encourage regional

coordination and local decision making.

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What the President’s FY15 Budget Means for Transit

Increases transit funding to $17.6B – 63% > FY14 enacted level

Requests $303B over 4 years for surface transportation reauthorization – $72B for transit

Moves all transit funding within Transportation Trust Fund

Targets $31B over 4 years to modernize/repair infrastructure

Provides $2.5B for New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity

Grows Bus Program to $1.9B, 353% increase over FY14

Adds a new $500M discretionary grant program to build BRT in areas with rapid population/ridership growth

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Federal Transit AdministrationResponsibilities1. Program Management

2. Grant Administration3. Project Management 4. Financial Management and Financial Capacity5. Procurement6. Civil Rights

• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise • Title VI• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

7. Asset Management 8. Safety

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NDOR Grant Recipient Responsibilities

1. Program Management2. Grant Administration3. Project Management 4. Financial Management and Financial Capacity5. Procurement6. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise 7. Asset Management

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NDOR Grant Responsibilities

8. Charter Bus9. School Bus10. ADA 11. Title VI 12. Equal Employment Opportunity 13. DFWA/Drug and Alcohol Program

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NDOR Grant Responsibilities

• State Management Plan• Annual milestone and financial

reporting• Oversight reviews (program, drug &

alcohol)• Subrecipient monitoring• National Transit Database reporting

(5311)• Vehicle procurements• Ensure general public transportation

services (5311)

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Subrecipient Responsibilities

• Administer transit services• Maintain FTA funded vehicles and facilities

and facility related equipment in good operating order.

• Report ridership and operating data requested by NDOR

• Drug & Alcohol program compliance

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

• Every three years• FTA reviews NDOR’s and

subrecipients compliance with program requirements

• Subrecipients reviewed

– Blue Rivers Area Agency on Aging (Section 5311)

– Beatrice Good Samaritan Society (Section 5310)

• 13 areas reviewed- Deficiencies in 8 areas (3 repeat from 2009)

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Program Management

• SMP not up to date with current grant development and management practices• NDOR oversight checklist missing monitoring questions regarding FTA requirements

• Insufficient oversight of subrecipients

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Program Management• Intercity Bus

- Consultative project not completed

- A NDOR subrecipient utilizing Section 5311(f) intercity bus funds but services did not meet definition

• Insufficient NDOR staffing for administering Federal funds

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

DBE Goal Setting Process• Inadequate DBE goal setting process

- NDOR did not conduct a consultative process that provided women’s minority, general contractor groups, community organizations etc. regarding availability of disadvantaged and non –disadvantaged businesses

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Asset Management• Subrecipients preventive maintenance

records did not contain mileage information

• NDOR not monitoring subrecipients vehicle maintenance activities.

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Lobbying

• NDOR not obtaining signed lobbying certifications from subrecipients receiving over $100,000 in Federal funds

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

ADA

• Operators of fixed routes not following ADA service provisions (repeat finding from 2009)

• City of Fremont – service classified as route deviation when it was demand response

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Title VI & Limited English Proficiency

• NDOR did not have process to ensure MPO Title VI compliance in funding agreements with MPOs (repeat finding from 2009)

• NDOR Section 5311 checklist did contain questions regarding Title VI and Limited English Proficiency compliance

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NDORFY2012 State Management Review

Drug and Alcohol Compliance

• Subrecipient drug and alcohol policies not compliant with USDOT requirements

• NDOR did not monitor subrecipients compliance with USDOT requirements (repeat finding from 2009)

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Questions?