AG 2014 11 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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OVERVIEW Background The Federal Transit Administration, on the behalf of the Secretary of Transportation, apportions appropriated 5311 funds annually to the Governor of each state for public transportation projects in non - urbanized areas. Specifically, the Section 5311 program intends to: (1) enhance the access of people in nonurbanized areas to health care, shopping, education, employment, public services and recreation; (2) assist in the maintenance, development, improvement and use of public transportation systems in non - urbanized areas; (3) encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all transportation funds used to provide passenger transportation in nonurbanized areas through the coordination of programs and services; (4) assist in the development and support of intercity bus transportation; (5) provide for the participation of private transportation providers in non - urbanized transportation; (6) to provide and enhance public transportation to the Tribal Transit Program on Indian reservations /tribal lands and to provide transit services to serve tribal communities; (7) to provide technical assistance to include project planning, program and management development, public transportation coordination activities, and research to promote effective delivery of public transportation in rural areas of the designated Appalachian region, and (8) to enhance and improve access to jobs through employment- related transportation services for welfare recipients and eligible low- income individuals; this includes transportation of residents from urbanized and rural areas to suburban employment opportunities. Public Transportation definition has changed slightly under MAP -21 by including a reference to 'shared ride' transportation. From the proposed FTA Circular C 9040.1G, the proposed definition is: Regular, continuing shared -ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income... Public transportation can be either fixed -route or demand - response service, but excludes intercity passenger rail provided by Amtrak, intercity bus service, charter bus service, school bus service, sightseeing services, courtesy shuttle services provided by individual businesses, and intra- terminal or intro facility shuttle services. The Governor of North Carolina, in accordance with the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended, designated the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Public Transportation Division (PTD) as the agency to receive and administer federal and state public transportation funds. The NCDOT (G.S. 136- 44.20) is the recipient of all Section 5311 funds and the Community Transportation Program (CTP) applicant is the sub - recipient. The purpose of Section 5311 assistance is the provision of public transportation services and maximum feasible coordination with other rural transportation services. The Public Transportation Division shall have principal responsibility and authority for the administration of the Section 5311 Program, and shall administer the programs in accordance with the guidance published by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA Proposed Circular 9040.1G) and in accordance with existing Federal and State regulations pertaining to the administration of Federal grants by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Transportation systems can use Section 5311 funds for public transportation projects in non- 2 Attachment number 1 G -1 Page 53