Website: https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/grants-buses-and-bus-facilities-fy2021-notice-funding
Funding: Total: $409,588,848. Maximum awards: $40,590,000, depending on project.
Dates: Webinar: October 13, 2021 at 2PM EST. Application Submission Deadline: November 19, 2021.
Summary:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $409.59 million in fiscal year (FY) 2021 funds under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. FTA will evaluate projects based on how they will address significant repair and maintenance needs and improve the safety of transit systems through timely and efficient investment in public transportation. FTA may prioritize projects that support FTA’s strategic goals and objectives.
Project Topic Areas:
As required by Federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, purchase or lease buses, vans, or related equipment, and to rehabilitate, purchase, construct or lease bus-related facilities. Projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses. FTA may award additional funds if they are made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.
Funding:
FTA is announcing the availability of $409,588,848 for the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program through this notice. The maximum award ceiling under this solicitation is $40,590,000. The maximum Federal share for projects selected under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program is 80 percent of the net project cost, unless any of the following exceptions applies: The maximum Federal share is 85 percent of the net project cost of acquiring vehicles (including clean-fuel or alternative fuel vehicles) for purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The maximum Federal share is 90 percent of the net project cost of acquiring, installing or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities (including clean fuel or alternative-fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities) for purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the CAA or ADA.
Project Requirements:
Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to which they demonstrate how the proposed project will address an unmet need for capital investment in bus vehicles or supporting facilities. Applications will be evaluated based on how well they describe how the proposed project will improve the condition of, or otherwise modernize, the transit system; improve the reliability of transit service for its riders; or enhance access and mobility within the service area. Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project will be consistent with local and regional long-range planning documents and local government priorities. Applicants may also address how the proposed project will impact overall system performance, asset management performance or specific performance measures tracked and monitored by the applying entity to demonstrate how the proposed project will address local and regional planning priorities. Applicants must identify the source of the non-Federal cost share and describe whether such funds are currently available for the project or will need to be secured if the project is selected for funding. Projects will be evaluated based on the extent to which the project is ready to implement within a reasonable period of time and whether the applicant’s proposed implementation plans are reasonable and complete. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the technical, legal, and financial capacity to undertake the project.
FTA will give priority consideration to applications that include the following:
- Projects that support the governmentwide Justice40 Initiative with the goal of delivering 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant Federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
- Applications that encourage racial equity in two areas: (1) Planning and policies related to racial equity and overcoming barriers to opportunity; and (2) project investments that either proactively address racial equity and barriers to opportunity, including automobile dependence as a form of barrier, or redress prior inequities and barriers to opportunity.
- Applications that are expected to create significant community benefits relating to the environment, including those projects that incorporate low or no emission technology or specific elements to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts. FTA encourages applicants to demonstrate whether they have considered climate change and environmental justice in terms of the transportation planning process or anticipated design components with outcomes that address climate change (e.g., resilience or adaptation measures). The application should also describe specific and direct ways the project will mitigate or reduce climate change impacts including any components that reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency, incorporate electrification or low emission or zero emission vehicle infrastructure, increase resiliency, or recycle or redevelop existing infrastructure.
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible applicants include designated recipients that allocate funds to fixed route bus operators, States or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service, and Indian tribes. Eligible subrecipients include all otherwise eligible applicants and also private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation. States may submit a statewide application on behalf of public agencies or private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation in rural areas or for other areas to which a State allocates funds. Except for projects proposed by Indian tribes, all proposals for projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted by a State, either individually or as a part of a statewide application. States and other eligible applicants also may submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas.