Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2012 013 TPM TRIP
Apply for FTA 2012 013 TPM TRIP
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2012 Discretionary Funding Opportunity Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.520 Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 27, 2012 and posted on Aug 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 28, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Federal Land Management Agencies State, Local and Tribal governments and subsidiaries with jurisdiction in the vicinity of an eligible area and with a letter of support from the affected land unit.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2012 Discretionary Funding Opportunity for the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2012 013 TPM TRIP; CFDA 20.520) was a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant program designed to reduce traffic congestion and its harmful side effects in and around federally managed public lands. The program responded to a growing problem facing national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal recreation areas: increasing vehicle traffic leading to crowding, degraded air quality, noise, resource damage, and an overall diminished visitor experience. By investing in alternatives to private vehicle travel, the program aimed to protect natural, historical, and cultural resources while helping visitors move around more easily and safely.
The central purpose of the grant was to fund alternative transportation systems that could shift trips away from private cars and improve access within and near eligible federal lands. Supported approaches included shuttle bus services, rail connections, and other forms of publicly available transit, including sightseeing transportation where it serves mobility needs. The program also explicitly included non-motorized transportation options, such as pedestrian pathways and bicycle trails, recognizing that well-planned walking and biking networks can reduce short vehicle trips, improve circulation at popular destinations, and broaden mobility options for visitors. Across these project types, the program emphasized improved mobility and accessibility, including access for people with disabilities, along with reduced congestion and pollution.
Funding under this opportunity was limited to capital and planning expenses for new or existing alternative transportation systems. In practical terms, that meant the grant could help pay for infrastructure, equipment, vehicles, facilities, trail construction, and related planning activities tied to developing or improving these systems. However, the program did not allow operating costs, so expenses like fuel, routine operations, and driver salaries were not eligible. Another key consideration in project selection was financial sustainability: FTA indicated it would prioritize projects that could demonstrate clear benefits independent of future funding sources. Planning projects were allowed, but they were expected to stand on their own by producing usable, near-term benefits even if later phases were not funded.
Eligibility was centered on the federal entities that manage public lands, referred to as Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs). Eligible FLMAs included, but were not limited to, the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Bureau of Reclamation (BR). The opportunity also allowed state, tribal, and local governmental authorities to apply when they had jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area, provided they were acting with the consent of the relevant FLMA. The source information notes that such applicants needed a letter of support from the affected land unit, reflecting the program’s intent that projects align with federal land management goals and on-the-ground operational realities.
Eligible project locations included any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area open to the public. This covered well-known categories such as National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, and recreation areas managed by BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation. Importantly, the program also recognized that congestion and access issues often extend beyond boundary lines, so projects could include surrounding communities and adjacent lands when they are connected to serving the eligible federal area and improving overall transportation access and circulation.
Administratively, the program was led by the U.S. Department of Transportation through FTA, working in coordination with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service. The FY 2012 notice was notable because it represented the final allocation of funds under the Transit in Parks program, which had been repealed by Congress in the most recent transportation authorization at that time. In other words, this opportunity functioned as a last round of discretionary funding to complete or launch projects consistent with the program’s original mission.
From a funding standpoint, FTA anticipated making about 25 awards with an estimated total of $12,000,000 available. The ceiling for an individual award was $2,000,000, and the floor was listed as $0, indicating there was not a stated minimum grant size. The posting date was August 27, 2012, and the application deadline was September 28, 2012, with the archive date listed as October 28, 2012. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds. The sponsoring agency was DOT/Federal Transit Administration, and a listed point of contact for access issues was Adam Schildge at (202) 366-0778.
FAQs: FY 2012 Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program (FTA 2012 013 TPM TRIP; CFDA 20.520)
What is the FY 2012 Discretionary Funding Opportunity for the Transit in Parks Program?
It was a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) discretionary grant opportunity under the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program intended to reduce traffic congestion and related impacts in and around federally managed public lands by investing in alternative transportation options.
What problem was this program designed to address?
The program targeted increasing vehicle traffic in and near federal recreation areas, which can cause crowding, degraded air quality, noise, resource damage, and a diminished visitor experience.
What were the main goals of the program?
The program aimed to shift trips away from private vehicles, improve access and circulation within and near eligible federal lands, protect natural/historical/cultural resources, and improve visitor mobility and safety. It also emphasized mobility and accessibility, including access for people with disabilities, along with reduced congestion and pollution.
What types of projects could be funded?
Eligible approaches included publicly available alternative transportation systems such as shuttle bus services, rail connections, and other transit options, including sightseeing transportation when it serves mobility needs. Non-motorized transportation options like pedestrian pathways and bicycle trails were also explicitly included.
Does the program allow non-motorized transportation projects like trails and pathways?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly included non-motorized options such as pedestrian pathways and bicycle trails, recognizing that walking and biking networks can reduce short vehicle trips and improve circulation at popular destinations.
Are sightseeing transportation services eligible?
Sightseeing transportation could be supported when it serves mobility needs as part of a publicly available transit approach.
What kinds of costs were eligible for funding?
Funding was limited to capital and planning expenses for new or existing alternative transportation systems. Examples described in the opportunity include infrastructure, equipment, vehicles, facilities, trail construction, and related planning activities tied to developing or improving the system.
Are operating costs eligible under this program?
No. Operating costs were not allowed. Examples of ineligible operating expenses mentioned include fuel, routine operations, and driver salaries.
Are planning projects eligible?
Yes. Planning projects were allowed, but they were expected to stand on their own by producing usable, near-term benefits even if later implementation phases were not funded.
What did the program mean by prioritizing financial sustainability?
FTA indicated it would prioritize projects that could demonstrate clear benefits independent of future funding sources, reflecting an emphasis on projects that remain valuable and viable beyond the grant.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility centered on Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) that manage public lands. The opportunity also allowed state, tribal, and local governmental authorities to apply when they had jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area, provided they acted with the consent of the relevant FLMA.
Which Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) were included?
Examples listed included the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Bureau of Reclamation (BR), among others.
Can state, tribal, or local governments apply?
Yes, if they had jurisdiction over land near an eligible area and were acting with the consent of the relevant FLMA.
Was documentation of FLMA consent required for non-FLMA applicants?
Yes. The source information indicates such applicants needed a letter of support from the affected land unit, reflecting the program intent that projects align with federal land management goals and on-the-ground realities.
Where could funded projects be located?
Eligible locations included federally owned or managed parks, refuges, or recreational areas open to the public. This included National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, and recreation areas managed by BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Could projects include areas outside federal land boundaries?
Yes. The program recognized congestion and access issues often extend beyond boundary lines, so projects could include surrounding communities and adjacent lands when connected to serving the eligible federal area and improving transportation access and circulation.
Which agencies administered or coordinated this opportunity?
The program was led by the U.S. Department of Transportation through FTA, working in coordination with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service.
How much funding was available under this FY 2012 opportunity?
FTA anticipated making about 25 awards with an estimated total of $12,000,000 available.
What was the maximum award amount?
The ceiling for an individual award was $2,000,000.
Was there a minimum grant amount?
The floor was listed as $0, meaning there was no stated minimum grant size.
Was cost sharing or a match required?
No. The opportunity stated that it did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date was August 27, 2012. The application deadline was September 28, 2012. The archive date was October 28, 2012.
What was notable about the FY 2012 notice in the context of the program?
The FY 2012 notice represented the final allocation of funds under the Transit in Parks program because the program had been repealed by Congress in the most recent transportation authorization at that time. This opportunity functioned as a last round of discretionary funding consistent with the program’s mission.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number was FTA 2012 013 TPM TRIP, and the CFDA number was 20.520.
Who was the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency was the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Who was the point of contact for access issues?
The listed point of contact for access issues was Adam Schildge at (202) 366-0778.
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