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FTA Announcements:
Department of Transportation Issues Waiver of Buy America Requirements for De Minimis Costs and Small Grants
The Department of Transportation (DOT) last week issued a public interest Waiver of Buy America Requirements for De Minimis Costs and Small Grants. The waiver is intended to ensure DOT and its grant recipients make efficient use of resources by focusing domestic sourcing efforts on products that provide the greatest manufacturing opportunities for American workers and firms, consistent with the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act, which was included in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The waiver is also intended to reduce delays in the delivery of important transportation infrastructure projects that provide jobs and promote economic growth.
The waiver applies to a single financial assistance award obligated on or after August 16, 2023, for which:
- The total value of the non-compliant products is no more than the lesser of $1 million or 5% of total applicable costs for the project; or
- The total amount of Federal financial assistance applied to the project, through awards or subawards, is below $500,000.
REGISTER NOW: 2023 Annual National Transit Database Reporting System Updates Webinar — 8/31/23
To learn more about changes to annual National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements, join the National Transit Institute (NTI) at an August 31 webinar. The webinar, which will run from 2-3p.m. ET, will focus on 2023 reporting systems updates, new data elements, data formatting, forms validation and where to enter data.
The webinar is intended for NTD reporting systems users whose responsibilities include data entry/reporting, statistical compilation, or other financial duties and activities. If you miss the webinar, it will be recorded and posted to the NTI’s YouTube page.
The NTD is the nation’s primary source for U.S. transit system data and collects annual financial, asset and operating information. FTA is implementing safety and security reporting changes to expand the data collected on transit worker assaults and bus impact fatalities. The reporting changes will apply to calendar year 2023 and NTD report year 2023, based on the type of reporter.
FTA Competitive Grant Opportunity Encourages Affordable Housing through TOD Planning with New 100% Federal Share
On August 7, 2023, FTA announced $13.4 million in competitive grants are available through the FY23 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning Program.
Recognizing the important connection between accessible transportation and affordable housing, FTA is encouraging TOD in areas where communities are trying to preserve, protect, and increase the supply of affordable housing. This NOFO provides applicants with an opportunity to receive full federal support for projects that focus on affordable housing as one type of substantial deliverable that may result from an applicant’s comprehensive or site-specific planning work. These affordable housing policies may focus on, among other things, reducing regulatory barriers, updating parking standards, and providing strategies to address homelessness. Specifically:
- “Proposals that address three or more activities related to the development of affordable housing (see section C.3.ii.v of the NOFO) will receive a federal funding share of 100 percent.”
Interested entities may join FTA staff at a webinar on Thursday, August 17 to discuss the NOFO and how to apply. Staff will discuss requirements for funding, eligibility and the submission process as well as the affordable housing opportunity.
Applications are due October 10, 2023.
FTA Announces Research Grant to Promote Transit Worker and Rider Safety Best Practices
FTA today announced a $500,000 research grant award to the University of South Florida to identify safety risks for transit workers and riders and determine the most effective strategies to minimize them.
It is the first phase of FTA’s Transit Worker and Rider Safety Best Practices initiative and a larger safety research effort at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The two-phased research initiative will provide technical and financial support to the transit industry and supportive organizations to pursue innovative approaches to reduce safety hazards.
Information produced under the grant will also better inform U.S. DOT about the potential need for additional Federal minimum public transportation safety standards.
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