Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants |
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Topics: Federal Transit Administration
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Peter Rogoff
Federal Register
July 13, 2011
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41323-41330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17651]
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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 2011 Funds: Solicitation
of Grant Applications.
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Funds: Solicitation of project proposals.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces the availability of funds in Fiscal Year
(FY) 2011 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
[[Page 41324]]
finance the incremental capital and training costs of complying with
DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility regulation. The authorizing
legislation 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. A total of
$8,800,000 is now available for both intercity fixed-route and other
providers of services using over-the-road buses.
DATES: Complete applications for OTRB Program grants must be submitted
electronically by September 12, 2011 through the Grants.gov Web site.
Applicants should initiate the process of registering on the Grants.gov
site immediately to ensure completion of registration before the
deadline for submission. Paper and/or faxed applications will not be
accepted. FTA will announce grant selections in the Federal Register
when the competitive selection process is complete.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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- 4345, e-mail: blenda.younger@dot.gov.
A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Award Information
III. Eligibility Information
IV. Application and Submission Information
V. Evaluation Criteria
VI. Award Administration Information
VII. Agency Contacts
Appendix A Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Application
Appendix B FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
Appendix C FY 2011 Discretionary Programs Schedule
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Authority
The program is authorized under Section 3038 of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Public Law 105-85 as amended
by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-059, August 10,
2005.
B. Background
OTRBs 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 OTRB Accessibility Program to assist OTRB
operators in complying with the Department's OTRB Accessibility
regulation, ``Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities'' (49
CFR part 37, subpart H).
Summary of DOT's OTRB Accessibility Rule Deadlines for Acquiring
Accessible Vehicles
Under the OTRB Accessibility regulation, all new buses obtained by
large (Class I carriers, i.e., those with gross annual transportation
revenues of $8.7 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 required 50
percent of the fixed-route operators fleets to be accessible by 2006,
and 100 percent of the vehicles in their fleets to be accessible by
October 29, 2012. New buses acquired by small (gross transportation
revenues of less than $8.7 million annually) fixed-route operators
after October 29, 2001, also are required to be lift-equipped, although
they do not have a deadline for total fleet accessibility. Small
operators also can provide equivalent service in lieu of obtaining
accessible buses. Starting in 2001, charter and tour companies must
provide service in an accessible bus on 48 hours advance notice. Fixed-
route operators 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 operators, and for small operators on
October 28, 2002. Operators should consult 49 CFR part 37, subpart H,
regarding the acquisition of accessible vehicles and the provision of
accessible service to determine the applicable section that best
describes their operating characteristics.
Specifications describing the design features of an accessible
over-the-road bus are listed in 49 CFR part 38, subpart G.
C. Purpose
The purpose of the OTRB program is to improve mobility and shape
America's future by ensuring that the transportation system is
accessible, integrated, and efficient, and offers flexibility of
choices which is a key strategic goal of the DOT. OTRB Accessibility
projects will improve mobility for individuals with disabilities by
providing financial assistance to help make vehicles accessible and
training to ensure that drivers and others are properly trained to use
accessibility features as well as how to treat patrons with
disabilities.
D. Vehicle and Service Definitions
An ``over-the-road bus'' is defined in 49 CFR 37.3 as 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 OTRB 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. The application includes six criteria factors that will be
reviewed to determine eligibility for a portion of the funding
available to operators that qualify under this definition.
``Other'' OTRB service means any other transportation using OTRBs,
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 may 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 commuter 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.
II. Award Information
Federal transit funds are available to intercity fixed-route
providers and other OTRB providers at up to 90 percent of the project
cost. A total of $8,800,000 was appropriated for the program in FY
2011. Successful applicants will be
[[Page 41325]]
awarded grants. Typical grants under this program range from $25,000 to
$180,000, with most grants being less than $40,000, for lift equipment
for a single vehicle.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Grants will be made directly to operators of OTRBs. Intercity,
fixed-route OTRB service providers may apply for the funds that were
appropriated for intercity fixed-route providers in FY 2011. Applicants
must establish eligibility as intercity fixed-route providers by
meeting established criteria on six factors identified in the
application. Other OTRB service providers, including operators of local
fixed-route service, commuter service, and charter or tour service may
apply for the funds that were appropriated in FY 2011 for these
providers. OTRB operators who provide both 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. FTA does not award grants to public entities under this
program.
Section 50 of FTA's Master Agreement, titled ``Special Provisions
for Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Projects,'' incorporates the U.S.
Department of Transportation's regulations implementing the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (49 CFR part 37). Section 37.213 of the
implementing regulation requires private OTRB operators to file annual
submissions with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's
(FMCSA) Office of Data Analysis and Administration. Because compliance
with all applicable Federal laws is a term and condition of grant
eligibility, applicants who are not in compliance with the FMCSA filing
requirements will be ineligible to participate in this program.
B. Eligible Projects
Projects to finance the incremental capital and training costs of
complying with DOT's OTRB 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 training
costs associated with using the accessibility features and serving
persons with disabilities. Retrofitting vehicles with such
accessibility components is also an eligible expense. Please see Buy
America section for further conditions of eligibility.
FTA may award funds for costs already incurred by the applicants.
Any new wheelchair accessible vehicles delivered after June 8, 1998,
the date that the TEA-21 became effective, are eligible for funding
under the program. Vehicles of any age that have been retrofitted with
lifts and other accessibility components after 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 OTRB services for these purposes are also eligible
expenses.
FTA will not fund the incremental costs of acquiring used
accessible OTRBs that were previously owned, 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.
The legislative intent of this grant program is to increase the number
of wheelchair accessible OTRBs available to persons with disabilities
throughout the country. The purchase of previously-owned accessible
vehicles, whether or not they were funded by FTA, does not further this
objective of increasing the number of wheelchair accessible OTRBs.
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 up-to-
date information on transportation accessibility. Project ACTION may be
contacted at: Project ACTION,
1425 K Street NW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 1-800-
659-6428 (TDD: (202) 347-7385), Internet address: http://www.projectaction.org/.
C. Cost Sharing or Matching
Federal transit funds are available to intercity fixed-route
providers and other OTRB providers at up to 90 percent of the project
cost. A 10 percent match is required.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address To Request Application Package
Project proposals must be submitted electronically through http://www.Grants.gov and a synopsis of this announcement will be available in
the ``FIND'' module. The mandatory SF424 Form must be completed. Use
the Supplemental FTA form (Applicant and Proposal Profile) to address
proposal content and evaluation criteria specified in this notice. The
Supplemental FTA form can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/otrb.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
Guidelines for Preparing Grant Application
The application should provide information on all items for which
you are requesting funding in FY 2011. If you use another company's
previous application as a guide, remember to modify all elements as
appropriate to reflect your company's situation. The application must
include a brief project narrative in the Standard Form 424,
``Application for Federal Assistance'', and a more substantive
narrative in the Supplemental FTA form.
Application Content
Applicant Information, This addresses basic identifying
information, including:
a. Company name.
b. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number.
c. Contact information for notification of project selection:
contact name, address, email address, fax and phone number.
d. Description of services provided by company, including areas
served.
e. For fixed-route carriers, whether you are a large (Class I, with
gross annual transportation revenues of $8.7 million or more) or small
(gross transportation revenues of less than $8.7 million annually)
carrier.
f. Existing fleet and employee information, including number of
over-the-road buses used for (1) Intercity fixed-route service, and (2)
other service, and number of employees.
g. If you provide both intercity fixed-route service and another
type of
[[Page 41326]]
service, such as commuter, charter or tour service, please provide an
estimate of the proportion of your service that is intercity.
h. Description of your technical, legal, and financial capacity to
implement the proposed project. Include evidence that you currently
possess appropriate operating authority (e.g., DOT number if you
operate interstate or identifier assigned by State if you do not
operate interstate service).
Project Information, Every application must:
a. Provide the Federal amount requested for each purpose for which
funds are sought in the format in Appendix A.
b. Document matching funds, including amount and source.
c. Describe project, including components to be funded (e.g.,
lifts, tie-downs, moveable seats, or training).
d. Provide project timeline, including significant milestones such
as date or contract for purchase of vehicle(s), and actual or expected
delivery date of vehicles.
e. Address each of the five statutory evaluation criteria described
in V.
f. If requesting funding for intercity service, provide evidence
that:
1. The applicant provides scheduled, intercity, fixed route, over-
the-road bus service that interlines with one or more scheduled,
intercity bus operators. (Such evidence includes applicant's membership
in the National Bus Traffic Association or participation in separate
interline agreements, and participation in interline tariffs or price
lists issued by, or on behalf of, scheduled, intercity bus operators
with whom the applicant interlines); and
2. The applicant has obtained authority from the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration or the Interstate Commerce Commission to
operate scheduled, intercity, fixed route service; and as many of the
following as are applicable;
3. The applicant is included in Russell's Official National Motor
Coach Guide showing that it provides regularly scheduled, fixed route
OTRB service with meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus
service to more distant points.
4. The applicant maintains a Website showing routes and schedules
of its regularly scheduled, fixed route OTRB service and its meaningful
connections to other scheduled, intercity bus service.
5. The applicant maintains published schedules showing its
regularly scheduled, fixed route OTRB service and its meaningful
connections to other scheduled, intercity bus service.
6. The applicant participates in the International Registration
Plan (IRP) apportionment program.
Labor Information:
The Applicant agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of the
Special Warranty for the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program that
is most current as of the date of execution of the Grant Agreement or
Cooperative Agreement for the project, and any alternative comparable
arrangements specified by U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for
application to the Applicant's project, in accordance with DOL
guidelines, ``Section 5333(b), Federal Transit Law,'' 29 CFR part 215,
and any revisions thereto. Any DOL Special Warranty that may be
provided and any documents cited therein are incorporated by reference
and made part of the Grant Agreement.
Additional information regarding grants that require referral can
be found on DOL's Web site: https://www.dol.gov/esa/olms/regs/compliance/redesign_2006/redesign2006_transitemplprotect.htm.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Complete proposals for the Over-the-Road Bus Program must be
submitted electronically through the Grants.gov Web site by September
12, 2011. Applicants are encouraged to begin the process of
registration on the Grants.gov site well in advance of the submission
deadline. Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several
weeks to complete before an application can be submitted. In addition
to the mandatory SF424 Form that will be downloaded from Grants.gov,
FTA requires applicants to complete the Supplemental FTA form to enter
descriptive and data elements of individual program proposals for the
Over-the-Road Bus Program. This supplemental form provides guidance and
a consistent format for applicants to respond to the criteria outlined
in this NOFA and is described in detail on the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/otrb. Applicants must use this Supplemental FTA form
and attach it to their submission in Grants.gov to successfully
complete the application process. Within 24-48 hours after submitting
an electronic application, the applicant should receive an e-mail
validation message from Grants.gov. The validation will state whether
Grants.gov found any issues with the submitted application. As an
additional notification, FTA's system will notify the applicant if
there are any problems with the submitted Supplemental FTA form. If
making a resubmission for any reason, include all original attachments
regardless of which attachments were updated. Complete instructions on
the application process can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/otrb.
Important: FTA urges applicants to submit their applications at least
72 hours prior to the due date to allow time to receive the validation
message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection
notification.
D. Intergovernmental Review
This program is not generally subject to Executive Order (EO)
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' For more
information, contact the State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find
out about and comply with the State's process under EO 12372. The names
and addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of Management and
Budget's homepage at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
E. Funding Restrictions
Only applications from eligible recipients for eligible activities
will be considered for funding (see Section III). Due to funding
limitations, applicants that are selected for funding may receive less
than the amount requested.
V. Evaluation Criteria
Project Evaluation Criteria--Projects will be evaluated according
to the following criteria:
a. The identified need for OTRB accessibility for persons with
disabilities in the areas served by the applicant.
b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrated innovative
strategies and financial commitment to providing access to OTRBs to
persons with disabilities.
c. The extent to which the OTRB operator acquired equipment
required by DOT's over-the-road bus accessibility rule prior to the
required time-frame in the rule.
d. The extent to which financing the costs of complying with DOT's
rule presents a financial hardship for the applicant.
e. The impact of accessibility requirements on the continuation of
OTRB service with particular consideration of the impact of the
requirements on service to rural areas and for low-income individuals.
Note: 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 previously awarded to applicants in
prior years. Applicants will not be considered for funding as
intercity fixed-route operators
[[Page 41327]]
unless they satisfy, at a minimum, the first two criteria and at
least one of criteria three through six listed in the Project
Information section of the application; these criteria are
applicable to intercity fixed-route applicants.
VI. Selection Process and Award Administration Information
A. Review and Selection Process
Each application may be screened by a panel of members consisting
of FTA headquarters and regional staff. Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will be disqualified. Intercity fixed-route service
providers must provide evidence that they meet at a minimum the first
two criteria and at least one of the next three criteria set forth in
Project Information, if funds are requested under this category (see
Appendix A, 2, B). Applicants that do not qualify as intercity-fixed
route operators may be considered for funding in the ``other'' category
using the same application. FTA will make an effort to award every
qualified applicant at least one lift.
B. Award Notices
FTA will screen all applications to determine whether all required
eligibility elements, as described in Part III ``Eligibility
Information,'' are present. The FTA evaluation team will evaluate each
application according to the criteria described in this announcement.
FTA will notify all applicants, both those selected for funding and
those not selected when the competitive selection process is complete.
Projects selected for funding will be published in a Federal Register
notice. Applicants selected for funding must then apply to the FTA
regional office for the actual grant award, sign Certifications and
Assurances, and execute a grant contract before funds can be drawn
down.
C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
1. Grant Requirements
Applicants selected for funding must include documentation
necessary to meet the requirements of FTA's Nonurbanized Area Formula
program (Title 49, United States Code, section 5311). 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.
The authority for these requirements is provided by TEA-21, Public
Law 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. Section 5310, note;
and DOT and FTA regulations and FTA Circulars.
2. Buy America
Under the OTRB Accessibility Grant Program, FTA's Buy America
regulations, 49 CFR part 661, apply to the incremental capital costs of
making vehicles accessible.
Generally, Buy America applies to all accessibility equipment
acquired with FTA funds, i.e., all of the manufacturing processes for
the product take place in the United States. The lift, the moveable
seats, and the securement devices will each be considered components
for purposes of this program; accordingly, as components, each must be
manufactured in the United States regardless of the origin of its
respective subcomponents.
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. (See 49 CFR 661.7, Appendix
A(e)). Because Section 3038(b) of TEA-21, limited FTA financing to the
incremental capital costs of compliance with DOT's OTRB accessibility
rule, the small purchase waiver applies only to the incremental cost of
the accessibility features. Where more than one bus is being made
accessible, the grantee must calculate the incremental cost increase of
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 or component
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/.
3. Labor Protection
Section 3013(h) of SAFETEA-LU amended 49 U.S.C. Section 5311(j)(1)
to permit the Secretary of Labor to utilize a special warranty that
provides a fair and equitable arrangement to protect the interest of
employees as set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5333(b). Pursuant to this
authorization, the DOL amended its implementing regulations at 29 CFR
part 215 (73 FR 47046, Aug.13, 2008). On October 1, 2008, DOL began
using a revised special warranty for the Section 5311 program which is
appropriate for use with OTRB grants. All OTRB grants awarded after
October 1, 2008 will be subject to the special warranty for labor
protective arrangements under the Section 5311 program, which will be
incorporated by reference in the grant agreement.
4. 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.
5. 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. Certifications and Assurances
for grants to be awarded under this program in FY 2011 are included in
the FTA Certifications and Assurances for FY 2011 which were published
in the Federal Register of November 2, 2010, and made available for
electronic signature in FTA's grants system. Every applicant must
submit Certification 01, ``For Each Applicant.'' Each applicant for
more than $100,000 must provide both Certification 01, and, 02, the
``Lobbying Certification.''
6. Reporting
Post-award reporting requirements include submission of final
Federal Financial Report and milestone report, or annual reports for
grants remaining
[[Page 41328]]
open at the end of each Federal fiscal year (September 30).
Documentation is required for payment.
VII. Agency Contact(s)
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) 366-4345, e-mail: blenda.younger@dot.gov. A TDD is available at
1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
Issued in Washington, DC, this 7th day of July, 2011.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.
Appendix A--Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Project Proposal
Application (Electronic Project Narrative)
(See Section IV.B of Federal Register announcement for detailed
explanation of application content).
In addition to OMB Standard Form 424, Application For Federal
Assistance, provide the following information on the Supplemental Form:
1. Applicant Information
A. Company Name:
B. DUNS Number:
C. For Notification of Project Selection Contact:
Name of Individual:
Address:
Fax:
Telephone number:
E-mail:
D. Describe Services Provided by Company, including Areas Served:
E. Intercity Fixed-Route Carriers:
----Large/Class I (gross annual transportation revenues of $8.7 Million
or more).
----Small (gross annual transportation revenues of less than $8.7
Million).
F. Existing Fleet and Employee Information:
----Total number of over-the-road buses in fleet.
----Number of over-the-road buses in fleet used for intercity fixed-
route service.
----Number of over-the-road buses intercity-fixed-route service that
currently have lifts.
----Number of over-the-road buses in fleet used for Other Service,
e.g., Charter, Tour, & Commuter.
----Number of over-the-road buses used in ``other'' service that
currently have lifts.
----Number of Employees.
G. Estimate of the proportion of service, if any, that is intercity
fixed-route ---- % of services is intercity fixed-route.
H. Describe your technical, legal, and financial capacity to
implement the proposed project. Include evidence of operating
authority.
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
Other Service (Commuter, Charter, or Tour)
$------ for ------New Over-the-road Buses
$------ for ------Retrofits
$------ for ------Employees--Training
B. If requesting funding for intercity service, provide evidence of
any of the following that are applicable:
1. The applicant provides scheduled, intercity, fixed-route, over-
the-road bus service that interlines with one or more scheduled,
intercity bus operators. Such evidence includes applicant's membership
in the National Bus Traffic Association or participation in separate
interline agreements, and participation in interline tariffs or price
lists issued by, or on behalf of, scheduled, intercity bus operators
with whom the applicant interlines.
2. The applicant has obtained authority from the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration or the Interstate Commerce Commission to
operate scheduled, intercity, fixed route service.
3. The applicant is included in Russell's Official National Motor
Coach Guide showing that it provides regularly scheduled, fixed route
OTRB service with meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus
service to more distant points.
4. The applicant maintains a website showing routes and schedules
of its regularly scheduled, fixed-route OTRB service and its meaningful
connections to other scheduled, intercity bus service.
5. The applicant maintains published schedules showing its
regularly scheduled, fixed-route OTRB service and its meaningful
connections to other scheduled, intercity bus service.
6. The applicant participates in the International Registration
Plan (IRP) apportionment program.
C. Document Matching Funds, including Amount and Source.
D. Describe Project, including Components to be funded (i.e.,
lifts, tie-downs, moveable seats or training).
E. 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.
F. Project Evaluation Criteria.
Provide information addressing the following criteria:
The identified need for OTRB accessibility for persons
with disabilities in the areas served by the applicant.
The extent to which the applicant demonstrated innovative
strategies and financial commitment to providing access to OTRBs to
persons with disabilities.
The extent to which the over-the-road bus operator
acquired equipment required by DOT's OTRB accessibility rule prior to
the required time frame in the rule.
The extent to which financing the costs of complying with
DOT's rule presents a financial hardship for the applicant.
The impact of accessibility requirements on the
continuation of OTRB service with particular consideration of the
impact of the requirements on service to rural areas and for low income
individuals.
G. Labor Information
List 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, provide
the name of the national organization and the number or other
designation of the local union.
For each independent labor organization, provide the local
information, including: name of organization, address, contact person,
phone and fax numbers.
For transit employee unions in service area of project,
provide information including: contact person, address, telephone
number and fax number for your company and associated union
information.
Appendix B
[[Page 41329]]
FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
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Mary Beth Mello, Regional Robert C. Patrick, Regional
Administrator, Region 1--Boston, Administrator, Region 6--Ft.
Kendall Square, 55 Broadway, Suite Worth, 819 Taylor Street, Room
920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, 8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, Tel.
Tel. 617-494-2055. 817-978-0550.
States served: Connecticut, Maine, States served: Arkansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Regional Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional
Administrator, Region 2--New York, Administrator, Region 7--Kansas
One Bowling Green, Room 429, New City, MO, 901 Locust Street, Room
York, NY 10004-1415, Tel. 212-668- 404, Kansas City, MO 64106, Tel.
2170. 816-329-3920.
States served: New Jersey, New York States served: Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri, and Nebraska.
New York Metropolitan Office,
Region 2--New York, One Bowling
Green, Room 428, New York, NY
10004-1415, Tel. 212-668-2202.
Terry Rosapep, Regional
Administrator, Region 8--Denver,
12300 West Dakota Ave., Suite 310,
Lakewood, CO 80228-2583, Tel. 720-
963-3300.
States served: Colorado, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
and Wyoming.
Letitia Thompson, Regional
Administrator, Region 3--
Philadelphia, 1760 Market Street,
Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103-
4124, Tel. 215-656-7100.
States served: Delaware, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia, and District of
Columbia.
Philadelphia Metropolitan Office,
Region 3--Philadelphia, 1760
Market Street, Suite 500,
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124, Tel.
215-656-7070.
Washington, DC Metropolitan Office,
1990 K Street, NW, Room 510,
Washington, DC 20006, Tel. 202-219-
3562.
Yvette Taylor, Regional Leslie T. Rogers, Regional
Administrator, Region 4--Atlanta, Administrator, Region 9--San
230 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite Francisco, 201 Mission Street,
800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Tel. 404- Room 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105-
865-5600. 1926, Tel. 415-744-3133.
States served: Alabama, Florida, States served: American Samoa,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,
North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Nevada, and the Northern Mariana
Carolina, Tennessee, and Virgin Islands.
Islands.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Office,
Region 9--Los Angeles, 888 S.
Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los
Angeles, CA 90017-1850, Tel. 213-
202-3952.
Marisol Simon, Regional Rick Krochalis, Regional
Administrator, Region 5--Chicago, Administrator, Region 10--Seattle,
200 West Adams Street, Suite 320, Jackson Federal Building, 915
Chicago, IL 60606, Tel. 312-353- Second Avenue, Suite 3142,
2789. Seattle, WA 98174-1002, Tel. 206-
States served: Illinois, Indiana, 220-7954
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and States served: Alaska, Idaho,
Wisconsin. Oregon, and Washington.
Chicago Metropolitan Office, Region
5--Chicago, 200 West Adams Street,
Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606, Tel.
312-353-2789.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13JY11.017
[FR Doc. 2011-17651 Filed 7-12-11; 8:45 am]
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