Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2011 015 TRI
Apply for FTA 2011 015 TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accessible Transit Services for All Populations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.514 Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2011 and posted on May 17, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Accessible Transit Services for All Populations opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2011 015 TRI) is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) research-focused grant/cooperative agreement aimed at improving how ADA complementary paratransit is delivered while staying fully compliant with U.S. Department of Transportation ADA rules (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38). The core idea is to help transit agencies provide required paratransit service more efficiently and at lower cost without weakening riders rights, while also identifying and addressing the real-world reasons many people with disabilities do not or cannot use the regular accessible fixed-route transit system. In practice, this means studying both paratransit operations and the fixed-route conditions that influence whether riders with disabilities can reliably choose buses and trains instead of more expensive demand-response trips.
FTA set aside up to $500,000 total for this effort and expected to make one award, with an anticipated award range from $300,000 to $500,000. The funding instrument was listed as a cooperative agreement and grant under the Transportation activity category, tied to CFDA 20.514 (Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement noted. The opportunity was posted May 17, 2011, and the application deadline was June 16, 2011 (with the archive date listed as July 16, 2011).
Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. The sponsoring agency was DOT/Federal Transit Administration.
On the substance of the research, FTA wanted proposals that examine operational practices that could reduce the cost of ADA complementary paratransit and improve service effectiveness, while also exploring how those practices relate to increased use of the accessible fixed-route system by riders with disabilities. A major theme is that some barriers are not about the vehicle itself being accessible, but about whether the overall system is reliable and usable end-to-end. The announcement specifically points to factors such as the reliability and availability of accessible fixed-route service and environmental barriers that make it difficult or unsafe to get to and from boarding locations, such as bus stops or station entrances.
FTA outlined several example practice areas that applicants could target. First, the project could evaluate different paratransit eligibility determination approaches, including conditional eligibility, which can tailor paratransit eligibility based on a persons functional ability and specific trip conditions rather than applying a one-size-fits-all decision. Second, the work could involve surveying bus stops and the paths of travel leading to stops and stations, then identifying and prioritizing improvements that make boarding points reachable and usable. Third, proposals could incorporate travel training, which helps riders build skills and confidence to use fixed-route service, including trip planning, fare payment, transfers, and navigating stations and stops. Fourth, the research could examine feeder services that connect riders to the fixed-route network, which can be a practical bridge where distances, topography, weather, or missing sidewalk links make direct access hard. Fifth, the project could assess and ensure fixed-route accessibility in day-to-day operations, including elevator and lift maintenance as well as stop announcements and route identification practices that are essential for riders with visual, cognitive, or other disabilities.
The announcement also leaves room for additional strategies to be identified during the project, especially those that promote technology use, improve scheduling and service operations, generate cost savings while enhancing mobility, or establish best practices for managing and contracting services. In other words, FTA was looking for a thorough, evidence-based look at what works, what saves money, and what genuinely increases mobility and independence for people with disabilities, with the ultimate goal of making fixed-route accessible transit a more viable option and reducing avoidable dependence on higher-cost paratransit where appropriate.
For reference and access issues, the notice listed a contact in the FTA Office of Research Management: Michael Winter, and pointed applicants to FTA Notices of Funding Availability for additional information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Accessible Transit Services for All Populations opportunity?
Accessible Transit Services for All Populations is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) research-focused grant/cooperative agreement opportunity intended to improve how ADA complementary paratransit is delivered while staying fully compliant with U.S. Department of Transportation ADA regulations (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FTA 2011 015 TRI.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
What is the main goal of the funded work?
The main goal is to identify and evaluate operational practices that can reduce the cost of ADA complementary paratransit and improve service effectiveness, without weakening riders rights, while also addressing real-world reasons many people with disabilities do not or cannot use the regular accessible fixed-route transit system.
Is this funding focused on research or on direct service expansion?
The opportunity is described as research-focused and emphasizes evidence-based analysis of practices and conditions affecting both paratransit and fixed-route accessibility and usability.
How does the opportunity relate paratransit improvements to fixed-route transit?
FTA wanted proposals that examine paratransit operational practices in a way that also explores how those practices relate to increased use of the accessible fixed-route system by riders with disabilities, especially when fixed-route service is reliable and usable end-to-end.
What kinds of barriers is FTA concerned about besides the vehicle itself being accessible?
The announcement highlights system-level and environmental barriers, including the reliability and availability of accessible fixed-route service and obstacles that make it difficult or unsafe to get to and from boarding locations such as bus stops or station entrances.
How much funding was available?
FTA set aside up to $500,000 total for this effort.
How many awards did FTA expect to make?
FTA expected to make one award.
What was the anticipated award size?
The anticipated award range was $300,000 to $500,000.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The opportunity listed the instrument as a cooperative agreement and grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was noted in the provided opportunity information.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 20.514, Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is Transportation.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included (1) nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and (2) public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit colleges or universities eligible under the nonprofit category?
The nonprofit eligibility category explicitly excluded institutions of higher education, while a separate eligibility category included public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 17, 2011.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was June 16, 2011.
What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?
An archive date of July 16, 2011 was listed, indicating the opportunity was subsequently archived after the active application period described in the notice.
What are the ADA regulations referenced in the notice?
The notice references U.S. Department of Transportation ADA rules in 49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38.
What are example research practice areas that proposals could target?
FTA provided several example areas, including: evaluating paratransit eligibility determination approaches (including conditional eligibility); surveying bus stops and paths of travel and prioritizing improvements; incorporating travel training to support fixed-route use; examining feeder services that connect riders to fixed-route; and assessing fixed-route accessibility in daily operations (such as elevator and lift maintenance, stop announcements, and route identification practices).
What is conditional eligibility in the context of this opportunity?
Conditional eligibility is described as an approach to paratransit eligibility determination that can tailor eligibility based on a persons functional ability and specific trip conditions rather than applying a one-size-fits-all decision.
What does the opportunity say about bus stops and paths of travel?
One suggested project approach is to survey bus stops and the paths of travel leading to stops and stations, then identify and prioritize improvements that make boarding points reachable and usable.
What is travel training as referenced in the notice?
Travel training is described as helping riders build skills and confidence to use fixed-route service, including trip planning, fare payment, transfers, and navigating stations and stops.
What are feeder services in this context?
Feeder services are described as services that connect riders to the fixed-route network, serving as a practical bridge where distances, topography, weather, or missing sidewalk links make direct access difficult.
What fixed-route accessibility issues does FTA call out for day-to-day operations?
The notice specifically mentions elevator and lift maintenance, as well as stop announcements and route identification practices that are essential for riders with visual, cognitive, or other disabilities.
Does the opportunity allow applicants to propose strategies beyond the examples listed?
Yes. The announcement leaves room for additional strategies to be identified during the project, especially those that promote technology use, improve scheduling and service operations, generate cost savings while enhancing mobility, or establish best practices for managing and contracting services.
What is the underlying policy balance FTA emphasizes?
FTA emphasizes improving efficiency and lowering costs for required paratransit service while remaining fully ADA-compliant and without weakening riders rights, alongside improving real access to fixed-route transit where appropriate.
Who was listed as the contact for reference and access issues?
The notice listed Michael Winter in the FTA Office of Research Management as the contact.
Where did the notice point applicants for additional information?
The notice pointed applicants to FTA Notices of Funding Availability for additional information.
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