Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Bee
I don't have all the answers electricron, but I do know that it's been recommended that the MTA spin off it's planning/construction bureaucracy into some other kind of entity that can operate more independently and more free of political accomidations and influence and let the main focus of the MTA be operations. They don't seem to have the efficiency or capacity to do both and to do both to the extent that the region deserves.
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Still, whether MTA rules the planning or some other agency does, public opinion will be sought and political processes will still gummed up the works.
I don't think you fully understand the processes how these Federal programs are funded. Let's see if I can find a great link to it.
https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/...la-grants-5307
Key points:
*Funds are available the year appropriated plus five years.
*Funding is apportioned based on legislative formulas. For urbanized areas of 50,000 to 199,999 in population, the formula is based on population, low-income population, and population density. These urbanized areas are also eligible to receive Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) funds if transit service provided in the urbanized area meets or exceeds the STIC performance criteria.
For urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more, the formula is based on a combination of bus vehicle revenue miles, bus passenger miles, fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles, fixed guideway directional route miles, fixed guideway passenger miles, and operating expenses, as well as population, low-income population, and population density.
*The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent of the net project cost for capital expenditures. The federal share may be 85 percent for the acquisition of vehicles and 90 percent for the cost of vehicle-related equipment or facilities (including clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities) for the purpose of complying with, or maintaining compliance with, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act. The federal share may not exceed 50 percent of the net project cost of operating assistance.
There are significant competition for the Federal funds between transit agencies. The closer you get to a 50-50 match with the Federal government, the better your odds are for getting such funds.
Capital Investment Grants
https://www.transit.dot.gov/CIG#:~:t...rogram%20funds
*This FTA discretionary grant program funds transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit. Federal transit law requires transit agencies seeking CIG funding to complete a series of steps over several years.
*For New Starts and Core Capacity projects, the law requires completion of two phases in advance of receipt of a construction grant agreement: Project Development and Engineering.
*For Small Starts projects, the law requires completion of one phase in advance of receipt of a construction grant agreement: Project Development.
The law also requires projects to be rated by FTA at various points in the process according to statutory criteria evaluating project justification and local financial commitment. For a complete discussion of the CIG process and the evaluation criteria, please see FTA’s Policy Guidance.
*Sponsors of CIG projects should also become familiar with the transportation planning and environmental review process requirements that apply to projects funded by FTA. Find information on the transportation planning process and the environmental review process.
There you are, you can not get away from planning and environmental reviews, which are required for Federal funding. And these reviews allow public participation, and political maneuvers.
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