Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2011 020 BLV
Apply for FTA 2011 020 BLV
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.500 Federal TransitCapital Investment Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2011 and posted on Jun 27, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 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 $150,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants under this program are direct recipients of funds provided under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program (Direct Recipients), as well as States and Indian tribes. Proposals for funding eligible projects in rural (nonurbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated State application with the exception of nonurbanized projects to Indian tribes. Tribes, States,and Direct Recipients may also submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas. Proposals may include projects to be implemented by the applicant as a Recipient or as one or more partners (subrecipients). Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private non profit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Program (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2011 020 BLV) was a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help public transportation providers modernize and improve bus service through capital investments. The program focused on practical, on-the-ground projects that make bus systems safer, more reliable, and more useful to riders by funding the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment, as well as the construction or improvement of bus-related facilities. In addition to funding projects carried out directly by an eligible applicant, the program also supported "programs" of bus and bus facility projects that would be implemented through subrecipients, including public agencies, private companies that provide public transportation, and private nonprofit organizations.
Funding for this initiative was expected to be at least $150 million, drawn from available discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) as established in SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), Public Law 109-59 (August 10, 2005). The notice explained that FTA could add more money if additional Bus and Bus Facilities funding became available, meaning the initiative could potentially grow beyond the initial $150 million estimate. The opportunity was listed under CFDA 20.500, Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants, and it required cost sharing or matching funds, so applicants needed to plan for a local or non-federal contribution as part of the total project budget.
Eligibility was structured around entities that already participate in core FTA transit funding streams. Eligible applicants included direct recipients of Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula funds (often large transit agencies or designated recipients in urbanized areas), as well as States and Indian tribes. For rural (nonurbanized) projects, the general rule was that proposals had to be submitted through a consolidated State application, with an exception allowing Indian tribes to submit nonurbanized-area projects outside of that consolidated State process. The notice also allowed flexibility in packaging projects: tribes, States, and direct recipients could submit consolidated proposals for urbanized-area projects, and proposals could include projects carried out by the applicant itself (as the recipient) or by one or more partners serving as subrecipients. Those subrecipients could be public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, or private transportation providers engaged in public transportation, which broadened participation beyond traditional public transit operators while still keeping the funding anchored to eligible primary applicants.
From a selection and application standpoint, FTA indicated that it would use priorities and evaluation criteria described in the official Federal Register notice (FR DOC # 2011-16015). That notice laid out what FTA considered "meritorious projects," the factors reviewers would use to compare competing proposals, and the mechanics of how to apply. The grant was categorized as discretionary, meaning proposals competed against each other rather than being distributed by formula, and applicants needed to align their projects to the livability-oriented goals and priorities FTA emphasized in the notice. The full program details were published in Federal Register Volume 76, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2011), pages 37393 to 37402, which served as the definitive guidance for what projects would score well, what documentation was required, and how FTA would make award decisions.
Key administrative details show that this was a time-limited 2011 funding round. The opportunity was posted June 27, 2011, created June 29, 2011, and had an original and current closing date of July 29, 2011, after which it was archived on August 28, 2011. The listing did not specify an award ceiling or floor (both shown as 0), which generally indicates that award sizes were not capped or guaranteed within the announcement itself and would depend on available funds, project merit, and FTA's funding decisions. For applicants who could not access the full announcement online, the listed point of contact was Bryce McNitt in FTA's Office of Budget and Policy, with a phone number provided in the notice.
Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative (FTA 2011 020 BLV) FAQs
What is the Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Program?
The Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Program (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2011 020 BLV) was a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It supported capital investments intended to modernize and improve bus service through practical projects that make bus systems safer, more reliable, and more useful to riders.
What kinds of projects were intended to be funded?
The initiative focused on on-the-ground capital projects, including the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment, as well as the construction or improvement of bus-related facilities.
Does the program fund buses only, or facilities too?
The opportunity covered both buses (and related equipment) and bus-related facilities. It specifically mentioned funding for bus replacement/rehabilitation/purchase and for construction or improvements of bus facilities.
Was this a formula grant or a competitive (discretionary) grant?
It was a discretionary grant opportunity. That means proposals competed against each other based on FTA priorities and evaluation criteria rather than being distributed automatically by a formula.
How much funding was expected to be available?
Funding for the initiative was expected to be at least $150 million, drawn from available discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) as established in SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59, August 10, 2005).
Could the amount of available funding increase beyond $150 million?
Yes. The notice stated that FTA could add additional money if more Bus and Bus Facilities funding became available, meaning the initiative could potentially exceed the initial $150 million estimate.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 20.500, Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants.
Did the opportunity require matching funds or cost sharing?
Yes. The listing indicated that cost sharing or matching funds were required, so applicants needed to include a local or non-federal contribution as part of the total project budget.
Who was eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligible applicants included direct recipients of Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula funds, as well as States and Indian tribes.
Can Indian tribes apply?
Yes. Indian tribes were listed as eligible applicants. In addition, for rural (nonurbanized) projects, tribes had an exception that allowed them to submit nonurbanized-area projects outside of the consolidated State application process.
How were rural (nonurbanized) project proposals supposed to be submitted?
For rural (nonurbanized) projects, the general rule was that proposals had to be submitted through a consolidated State application. The notice provided an exception for Indian tribes, allowing them to submit nonurbanized-area projects outside of that consolidated State process.
Could a single application include multiple projects?
Yes. The notice allowed tribes, States, and direct recipients to submit consolidated proposals for urbanized-area projects. Applications could package multiple bus and bus facility projects into one proposal.
Could projects be implemented by partners or subrecipients instead of the primary applicant?
Yes. In addition to projects carried out directly by an eligible applicant, the initiative supported "programs" of bus and bus facility projects that would be implemented through subrecipients.
Who could serve as subrecipients under this opportunity?
The notice stated that subrecipients could include public agencies, private companies that provide public transportation, and private nonprofit organizations. It also described subrecipients as public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, or private transportation providers engaged in public transportation.
Does this mean private companies could participate?
Yes, in the role of subrecipients. Private companies that provide public transportation were included among the types of organizations that could implement projects as subrecipients under an eligible primary applicant.
How did FTA decide which projects to fund?
FTA indicated it would use priorities and evaluation criteria described in the official Federal Register notice (FR DOC # 2011-16015). That notice explained what FTA considered "meritorious projects," the factors used to compare proposals, and the mechanics of how to apply.
Where were the official program details published?
The definitive guidance was published in the Federal Register: Volume 76, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2011), pages 37393 to 37402. The notice referenced FR DOC # 2011-16015.
What was the timeline for this funding round?
The opportunity was posted on June 27, 2011, created on June 29, 2011, and had an original and current closing date of July 29, 2011. It was archived on August 28, 2011, indicating it was a time-limited 2011 round.
Was there a stated minimum or maximum award size?
No. The listing showed an award ceiling of 0 and an award floor of 0, which generally indicates that award sizes were not specified in the announcement itself and could vary based on available funds, project merit, and FTA funding decisions.
What was the main purpose or theme of the initiative?
The initiative emphasized livability-oriented outcomes and targeted practical capital investments intended to make bus service safer, more reliable, and more useful to riders.
Which statutory authority was cited for the funding?
Funding was described as coming from discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) as established in SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), Public Law 109-59 (August 10, 2005).
Who was the point of contact for applicants who could not access the announcement online?
The listed point of contact was Bryce McNitt in FTA's Office of Budget and Policy, with a phone number provided in the notice.
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