atlanta regional policy · bus revenue vehicle miles (brvm)

Atlanta Regional Policy

Allocation and Programming of

FTA Section 5307 and Section 5340

Urbanized Area Formula Funds

2017

Table of Contents

Statement of Fact ................................................................................................................................ i Annual Apportionment Calculation ................................................................................................... 1 Suballocation Distribution Formula ................................................................................................... 2 Suballocation Process......................................................................................................................... 3 Program of Projects (POP) Development .......................................................................................... 5 Program of Projects (POP) Approval Process .................................................................................... 6 Table 1: Program of Projects (POP) Example .................................................................................... 7 Figure 1: 2010 Atlanta Urbanized Area ............................................................................................. 9

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Statement of Fact The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), as the Designated Recipient, in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) administers the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Urbanized Area Formula (Section 5307) and Associated Growing States/High Density (Section 5340) funds allocated to the Atlanta Urbanized Area (UZA). The FTA administers both programs (Section 5307 and Section 5340) under the Section 5307 grant guidance. Therefore, this document will refer to both programs as Section 5307. All Section 5307 formula funds must be suballocated to eligible recipients according to FTA guidelines and in accordance with the Atlanta regional planning process and the development of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The Designated Recipient has the principal administrative responsibility for preparing and delivering the Atlanta UZA suballocation schedule to the MPO. During the fiscal year, eligible projects consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and within the limits of local allocations will be considered as additions to the TIP through the regional transportation planning process. It is understood that there are county governments in the Atlanta Urbanized Area that do not operate transit systems and do not perform transit planning functions. It is further understood that in some of these counties, other entities may be operating transit systems eligible to receive Section 5307 funds. The MPO and the Designated Recipient require these county governments to develop memoranda of agreement with the eligible operator(s) within their jurisdictions to provide for the use of the county’s Section 5307 allocation by these operator(s). These memoranda of agreement should be provided to the MPO and the Designated Recipient. The following policy has been developed fairly and rationally through a process that is agreeable to the Designated Recipient in accordance with FTA Circular 9030.1E.

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Annual Apportionment Calculation

(a) One‐half of one percent (0.5%) of the amount of the total annual apportionment of Section 5307 funds for the UZA shall be reserved for regional transit planning and/or other regional projects. As the federally designated MPO for the Atlanta region, ARC will assume the responsibility for the coordination and/or implementation of these projects in accordance with FTA guidelines.

(b) The remaining 99.5% of the annual apportionment of Section 5307 funds exclusive of the

Section 5307 Low Income Component1, shall be suballocated to MARTA, and other transit operators and counties/jurisdictions within the Atlanta UZA.

(c) The Transit Operators Subcommittee2 (TOS), through a consensus decision3, may elect to

set‐aside/reserve a portion of the remaining 99.5%, of the annual allocation of Section 5307 funds, exclusive of the Section 5307 Low Income Component, for a specific regional purpose. The terms of the set‐aside are to be stated in the consensus decision as well as the agency/entity responsible for the coordination and/or implementation of the projects in accordance with FTA guidelines.

(d) The Low‐Income Component set‐aside allocation is administered by the Designated

Recipient in accordance with the Regional Policy.1 Through a consensus decision, projects that meet the Low‐Income Component project requirements will be recommended for funding from the set‐aside allocation.

(e) In the event that the FTA’s national apportionment formula changes, the MPO and the Designated Recipient, through the TOS, will undertake a re‐evaluation of this policy to determine if appropriate changes to the current policy need to be made.

1 MAP‐21 consolidated the Section 5316 (Job Access and Reverse Commute) program into the Section 5307 program

as a Low‐Income Component. The Atlanta UZA uses the FTA’s national apportionment formula as defined by MAP‐

21 to allocate funding for the Low‐Income Component. The Low‐Income Component funds are suballocated within

the region per a separate solicitation administered by the MPO. By consensus of TOS, the available funding is

suballocated to eligible recipients based on the level of available funding and service to be provided.

2 Transit Operators Subcommittee of ARC created in 1998, includes membership from agencies eligible to receive

FTA funding, entities that provide public transportation, agencies with transit funds programmed in the TIP for

transit projects and studies as well as other interested parties are invited to participate.

3 A consensus decision is defined as unanimity among the subrecipients of Section 5307 in the Atlanta UZA.

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Suballocation Distribution Formula

(a) The suballocation for the Atlanta UZA is determined by applying the FTA’s national apportionment formula for both Section 5307 and 5340 as defined by Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. These formulas consider:

Population (2010 Census) Population Density (Persons Per Square Mile based on 2010 Census) Bus Revenue Vehicle Miles (BRVM) Fixed Guideway Directional Route Miles (FG DRM) Ratio of Passenger Miles x Passenger Miles to Operating Costs

(b) The suballocation will employ the most recent U.S. Census population estimates for the Urbanized Area and the FTA approved National Transit Database (NTD) service measures which were used to determine the national apportionments. With the exception of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties, the portion of the funds that is suballocated on the basis of Population and Population Density are assigned to the counties included in the Atlanta UZA4. The portion of the funds allocated based on Population and Population Density for Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties will be allocated directly to MARTA.

(c) The portion of the funds allocated based on NTD service statistics will be attributed to the

entity which reports those statistics to the NTD. In the case of an agency that may contract for service and the contractor reports to the NTD, the funds allocated based on service statistics will be credited to the applicable agency/jurisdiction.

4 See Figure 1: 2010 Atlanta Urbanized Area Map

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Suballocation Process

(a) The Designated Recipient will run the distribution formula and provide the MPO with the annual Section 5307 Suballocation Schedule5 within 30 days of FTA’s publication of the Section 5307 Apportionments in the Federal Register. The annual suballocation for each jurisdiction in the Atlanta UZA that is eligible for Section 5307 funds and all transit systems reporting data to the NTD collectively referred to hereinafter as “eligible recipients”, is included in the aforementioned schedule. In the event that Congress authorizes a partial year apportionment of annual funding under a Continuing Resolution and FTA publishes a Federal Register Notice with partial year funding, the TOS has the option to either run the distribution formula with partial funding or defer and run the distribution formula as additional funding is authorized and appropriated by Congress and published in the Federal Register by FTA.

(b) The MPO, in coordination with the Designated Recipient, will notify each eligible recipient, in writing, within the Atlanta UZA of the amount of its fiscal year suballocation along with Section 5307 and 5340 Balance Sheet within 30 days of receipt by the MPO of the Section 5307 UZA Suballocation Schedule from the Designated Recipient.

(c) Each eligible recipient of Section 5307 funds will be required to respond in writing to the MPO (with copy to the Designated Recipient) regarding its intention to bank the funds, transfer the funds to another eligible recipient, or return the funds to the Atlanta UZA. Such notification (via email or letter correspondence) must be received by the MPO and Designated Recipient within 45 days of being notified of its suballocation. Failure to respond within the 45‐day period will be considered tantamount to directing the Designated Recipient and MPO to return the funds to the Atlanta UZA.

(d) The eligible recipient must provide to the MPO (with copy to the Designated Recipient) a Program of Projects (POP) that includes a specific description of the proposed project(s), the federal, state and local share and year of obligation (as shown in Table 1) for Section 5307 funding at least 90 days prior to submitting a grant application to FTA.

(e) An eligible recipient may elect to initially bank the Section 5307 funds in good faith per an approved transportation plan. If the county/jurisdiction determines that conditions/situations have changed, they will transfer funds to an eligible recipient or return the funds to the Atlanta UZA no later than eight months prior to the federally allowed period of eligibility.

5 Suballocation Schedule is a list of eligible county/jurisdictions Fiscal Year total suballocation and the federal and

local program funding participation.

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(f) When an eligible county/jurisdiction elects to transfer its suballocation; the amount transferred will be credited to the receiving county/jurisdiction and updated on the corresponding suballocation Section 5307 and 5340 Balance Sheet produced by the Designated Recipient.

(g) When a county/jurisdiction does not have an eligible transit system in operation, the county/jurisdiction will either (1) notify the MPO and the Designated Recipient that it does not intend to use its allocation or (2) if a county/jurisdiction fails to respond within 45 days of receiving notification of its allocation, that county/jurisdiction’s allocation is redistributed to the remainder of the UZA transit operators with National Transit Database service statistics in accordance with the FTA apportionment formula and Regional Policy.

(h) In the event that some portion of the regional allocation does not get programmed in the TIP in the year of allocation, those funds will be programmed during the next update or amendment of the TIP.

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Program of Projects Development (a) The development of the Section 5307 POP for the Atlanta Urbanized Area will be

accomplished via the procedures set forth in this policy. The POP may be amended at any time by the Designated Recipient and the MPO through the TOS of ARC and with its consent without the need for adoption bythe MPO Board.

(b) Pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement for Transportation Planning Coordination and Cooperation in the Atlanta Metropolitan Planning Area, also known as the Quad‐Party Agreement, the MPO will provide the lead role in the development of the Program of Projects6 (POP) which meets the criteria specified in 23 CFR 450.

(c) The MPO will conduct public participation activities for the proposed POP, consistent with

Circular 9030.1E, in conjunction with the public participation process required for updating or amending the TIP (ARC Regional Community Engagement Plan). Specific public participation activities and schedules will be dependent on the status of the TIP development process.

(d) The proposed POP for a fiscal year suballocation will undergo the MPO’s TIP amendment

process. Depending on the nature of the amendment and its regional impact, the proposed POP will require a public review and comment period of 10 to 30 calendar days.

(e) The final POP will be made available to the public and will represent projects that have met

the MPO’s TIP approval process and is set to be executed in a FTA grant application. (f) If an agency/jurisdiction has not submitted projects to be programmed in the POP and

accompanying grant application for suballocated funds within eight months of the federally allowed period of eligibility, the suballocated funds will be reprogrammed via the current Section 5307 distribution policy. This will allow sufficient time for eligible recipients to submit a POP and grant application for reprogrammed funds.

(g) If an existing project(s) programmed in the POP is not submitted as part of a grant

application within eight months of the federally allowed period of availability (the year of the allocation plus five additional years), the funds associated with that project will be reprogrammed via the Section 5307 suballocation distribution policy set forth in this document.

6 Program of Projects (POP) is a list of projects proposed by an eligible recipient in cooperation with a

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to be funded from the Atlanta UZA’s Section 5307 allocation.

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POP Approval Process

(a) The proposed POP, as part of the Draft TIP, will follow the approval process for the TIP as specified in the Metropolitan Planning Regulations [23 CFR 450.324(b)].

(b) The MPO will process, and the Designated Recipient will review the proposed POP’s

submitted by the eligible recipients. Jointly, the MPO and the Designated Recipient will assimilate the proposed POP, and present it to the TOS of the ARC. TOS will make a recommendation regarding the proposed POP, subject to concurrence by the Designated Recipient, and forward it to the MPO to be included in the TIP update or amendment process (as applicable based on where the MPO is in the TIP development cycle) as defined by the federally mandated regional planning process.

(c) The MPO will make available the proposed POP via the MPO’s website for public review

and comments during the TIP Amendment process. Comments will be considered and addressed collectively by the project sponsor, the Designated Recipient and the MPO.

(d) At the end of the comment period stakeholder agencies and other interested parties will

take in consideration opposing views on a case by case basis.

(e) At the end of the comment period, the MPO will publish the eligible recipient’s final projects in the POP for reference in the FTA grant application submission process.

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Table 1: POP Example Program of Projects (POP) Tables

Planning Short and Long‐Rang Planning

ARC ID Number Project Description Federal State Local Total YOO**

Technical Studies Engineering & Design Major Capital Investments Other (Please Explain)

Capital Bus and Bus Related


Replacement of buses Expansion of bus fleet Overhaul of buses Rebuild/Rehab of buses Preventive Maintenance Computer Hardware/Software Vehicle Related Equipment *ADA/CAA Other (Please Explain)

Facility/Terminal/Park and Ride


***Construction ***Engineering and Design ***Land Acquisition Maintenance Safety and Security *ADA/CAA Other (Please Explain)

Associated Transit Improvements


Signage Bus shelters & benches Pedestrian access and walkways Bicycle access Landscaping & Streetscaping *ADA/CAA Other (Please Explain)

*Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA/Paratransit)/

Clean Air Act (CAA/Clean Fuel Buses)

**YOO ‐ Year of Obligation (for FTA projects, obligation occurs when the FTA grant is awarded)

***Additional information (e.g. scope and location) can be added

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Education and Training


Tuition/Registration Travel Certifications Supplies Other (Please Explain)

Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC)


Mobility Management Program Administration Planning and Development Operating Assistance *ADA/CAA Other (Please Explain)

Other Capital Projects


Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Joint Development Program Administration Capital Cost of Contracting Leasing Capital Assets Fixed Guideway Working Capital Buildings and Equipment Bond Interest Leasing Capital Assets Other (Please Explain)

Operating ARC ID Number Project Description Federal State Local Total YOO**

Fuel Wages Pension and Benefits Insurance Loan Interest Security Personnel POS/Service Contracts Preventive Maintenance *ADA/CAA Other (Please Explain)

*Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA/Paratransit)/

Clean Air Act (CAA/Clean Fuel Buses)

**YOO ‐ Year of Obligation (for FTA projects, obligation occurs when the FTA grant is awarded)

***Additional information (e.g. scope and location) can be added

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Figure 1: 2010 Atlanta Urbanized Area

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