TITLE 49 - US CODE - CHAPTER 53 - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

49 USC 5301 - Policies, findings, and purposes

(a) Development and Revitalization of Public Transportation Systems.— 
It is in the interest of the United States, including its economic interest, to foster the development and revitalization of public transportation systems that
(1) maximize the safe, secure, and efficient mobility of individuals;
(2) minimize environmental impacts; and
(3) minimize transportation-related fuel consumption and reliance on foreign oil.
(b) General Findings.— 
Congress finds that
(1) more than two-thirds of the population of the United States is located in rapidly expanding urbanized areas that generally cross the boundary lines of local jurisdictions and often extend into at least 2 States;
(2) the welfare and vitality of urban areas, the satisfactory movement of people and goods within those areas, and the effectiveness of programs aided by the United States Government are jeopardized by deteriorating or inadequate urban transportation service and facilities, the intensification of traffic congestion, and the lack of coordinated, comprehensive, and continuing development planning;
(3) transportation is the lifeblood of an urbanized society, and the health and welfare of an urbanized society depend on providing efficient, economical, and convenient transportation in and between urban areas;
(4) for many years the public transportation industry capably and profitably satisfied the transportation needs of the urban areas of the United States but in the early 1970s continuing even minimal public transportation service in urban areas was threatened because maintaining that transportation service was financially burdensome;
(5) ending that transportation, or the continued increase in its cost to the user, is undesirable and may affect seriously and adversely the welfare of a substantial number of lower income individuals;
(6) some urban areas were developing preliminary plans for, or carrying out, projects in the early 1970s to revitalize their public transportation operations;
(7) significant public transportation improvements are necessary to achieve national goals for improved air quality, energy conservation, international competitiveness, and mobility for elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged individuals in urban and rural areas of the United States;
(8) financial assistance by the Government to develop efficient and coordinated public transportation systems is essential to solve the urban transportation problems referred to in clause (2) of this subsection; and
(9) immediate substantial assistance by the Government is needed to enable public transportation systems to continue providing vital transportation service.
(c) Rapid Urbanization and Continuing Population Dispersal.— 
Rapid urbanization and continuing dispersal of the population and activities in urban areas have made the ability of all citizens to move quickly and at a reasonable cost an urgent problem of the Government.
(d) Elderly Individuals and Individuals With Disabilities.— 
It is the policy of the Government that elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities have the same right as other individuals to use public transportation service and facilities. Special efforts shall be made in planning and designing public transportation service and facilities to ensure that public transportation can be used by elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. All programs of the Government assisting public transportation shall carry out this policy.
(e) Preserving the Environment.— 
It is the policy of the Government that special effort shall be made to preserve the natural beauty of the countryside, public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and important historical and cultural assets when planning, designing, and carrying out a public transportation capital project with assistance from the Government.
(f) General Purposes.— 
The purposes of this chapter are
(1) to assist in developing improved public transportation equipment, facilities, techniques, and methods with the cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation;
(2) to encourage the planning and establishment of areawide public transportation systems needed for economical and desirable urban development with the cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation;
(3) to assist States and local governments and their authorities in financing areawide public transportation systems that are to be operated by public transportation companies or private companies engaged in public transportation as decided by local needs;
(4) to provide financial assistance to State and local governments and their authorities to help carry out national goals related to mobility for elderly individuals, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged individuals; and
(5) to establish a partnership that allows a community, with financial assistance from the Government, to satisfy its public transportation requirements.

49 USC 5302 - Definitions

(a) In General.— 
Except as otherwise specifically provided, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) Capital project.— 
The term capital project means a project for
(A) acquiring, constructing, supervising, or inspecting equipment or a facility for use in public transportation, expenses incidental to the acquisition or construction (including designing, engineering, location surveying, mapping, and acquiring rights-of-way), payments for the capital portions of rail trackage rights agreements, transit-related intelligent transportation systems, relocation assistance, acquiring replacement housing sites, and acquiring, constructing, relocating, and rehabilitating replacement housing;
(B) rehabilitating a bus;
(C) remanufacturing a bus;
(D) overhauling rail rolling stock;
(E) preventive maintenance;
(F) leasing equipment or a facility for use in public transportation, subject to regulations that the Secretary prescribes limiting the leasing arrangements to those that are more cost-effective than purchase or construction;
(G) a public transportation improvement that enhances economic development or incorporates private investment, including commercial and residential development, pedestrian and bicycle access to a public transportation facility, construction, renovation, and improvement of intercity bus and intercity rail stations and terminals, and the renovation and improvement of historic transportation facilities, because the improvement enhances the effectiveness of a public transportation project and is related physically or functionally to that public transportation project, or establishes new or enhanced coordination between public transportation and other transportation, and provides a fair share of revenue for public transportation that will be used for public transportation
(i) including property acquisition, demolition of existing structures, site preparation, utilities, building foundations, walkways, open space, safety and security equipment and facilities (including lighting, surveillance and related intelligent transportation system applications), facilities that incorporate community services such as daycare or health care, and a capital project for, and improving, equipment or a facility for an intermodal transfer facility or transportation mall, except that a person making an agreement to occupy space in a facility under this subparagraph shall pay a reasonable share of the costs of the facility through rental payments and other means; and
(ii) excluding construction of a commercial revenue-producing facility (other than an intercity bus station or terminal) or a part of a public facility not related to public transportation;
(H) the introduction of new technology, through innovative and improved products, into public transportation;
(I) the provision of nonfixed route paratransit transportation services in accordance with section 223 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12143), but only for grant recipients that are in compliance with applicable requirements of that Act, including both fixed route and demand responsive service, and only for amounts not to exceed 10 percent of such recipients annual formula apportionment under sections 5307 and 5311;
(J) crime prevention and security
(i) including
(I) projects to refine and develop security and emergency response plans;
(II) projects aimed at detecting chemical and biological agents in public transportation;
(III) the conduct of emergency response drills with public transportation agencies and local first response agencies; and
(IV) security training for public transportation employees; but
(ii) excluding all expenses related to operations, other than such expenses incurred in conducting activities described in clauses (i)(III) and (i)(IV);
(K) establishing a debt service reserve, made up of deposits with a bondholders trustee, to ensure the timely payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by a grant recipient to finance an eligible project under this chapter; or
(L) mobility management
(i) consisting of short-range planning and management activities and projects for improving coordination among public transportation and other transportation service providers carried out by a recipient or subrecipient through an agreement entered into with a person, including a governmental entity, under this chapter (other than section 5309); but
(ii) excluding operating public transportation services.
(2) Chief executive officer of a state.— 
The term chief executive officer of a State includes the designee of the chief executive officer.
(3) Emergency regulation.— 
The term emergency regulation means a regulation
(A) that is effective temporarily before the expiration of the otherwise specified periods of time for public notice and comment under section 5334 (b);[1] and
(B) prescribed by the Secretary as the result of a finding that a delay in the effective date of the regulation
(i) would injure seriously an important public interest;
(ii) would frustrate substantially legislative policy and intent; or
(iii) would damage seriously a person or class without serving an important public interest.
(4) Fixed guideway.— 
The term fixed guideway means a public transportation facility
(A) using and occupying a separate right-of-way or rail for the exclusive use of public transportation and other high occupancy vehicles; or
(B) using a fixed catenary system and a right-of-way usable by other forms of transportation.
(5) Individual with a disability.— 
The term individual with a disability means an individual who, because of illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other incapacity or temporary or permanent disability (including an individual who is a wheelchair user or has semiambulatory capability), cannot use effectively, without special facilities, planning, or design, public transportation service or a public transportation facility.
(6) Local governmental authority.— 
The term local governmental authority includes
(A) a political subdivision of a State;
(B) an authority of at least 1 State or political subdivision of a State;
(C) an Indian tribe; and
(D) a public corporation, board, or commission established under the laws of a State.
(7) Mass transportation.— 
The term mass transportation means public transportation.
(8) Net project cost.— 
The term net project cost means the part of a project that reasonably cannot be financed from revenues.
(9) New bus model.— 
The term new bus model means a bus model (including a model using alternative fuel)
(A) that has not been used in public transportation in the United States before the date of production of the model; or
(B) used in public transportation in the United States, but being produced with a major change in configuration or components.
(10) Public transportation.— 
The term public transportation means transportation by a conveyance that provides regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public, but does not include schoolbus, charter, or intercity bus transportation or intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity described in chapter 243 (or a successor to such entity).
(11) Regulation.— 
The term regulation means any part of a statement of general or particular applicability of the Secretary designed to carry out, interpret, or prescribe law or policy in carrying out this chapter.
(12) Secretary.— 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
(13) State.— 
The term State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
(14) Transit.— 
The term transit means public transportation.
(15) Transit enhancement.— 
The term transit enhancement means, with respect to any project or an area to be served by a project, projects that are designed to enhance public transportation service or use and that are physically or functionally related to transit facilities. Eligible projects are
(A) historic preservation, rehabilitation, and operation of historic public transportation buildings, structures, and facilities (including historic bus and railroad facilities);
(B) bus shelters;
(C) landscaping and other scenic beautification, including tables, benches, trash receptacles, and street lights;
(D) public art;
(E) pedestrian access and walkways;
(F) bicycle access, including bicycle storage facilities and installing equipment for transporting bicycles on public transportation vehicles;
(G) transit connections to parks within the recipients transit service area;
(H) signage; and
(I) enhanced access for persons with disabilities to public transportation.
(16) Urban area.— 
The term urban area means an area that includes a municipality or other built-up place that the Secretary, after considering local patterns and trends of urban growth, decides is appropriate for a local public transportation system to serve individuals in the locality.
(17) Urbanized area.— 
The term urbanized area means an area encompassing a population of not less than 50,000 people that has been defined and designated in the most recent decennial census as an urbanized area by the Secretary of Commerce.
(b) Authority To Modify “Individual With a Disability”.— 
The Secretary may by regulation modify the definition of the term individual with a disability in subsection (a)(5) as it applies to section 5307 (d)(1)(D).
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5303 - Metropolitan transportation planning

(a) Policy.— 
It is in the national interest to
(1) encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, operation, and development of surface transportation systems that will serve the mobility needs of people and freight and foster economic growth and development within and between States and urbanized areas, while minimizing transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution through metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes identified in this chapter; and
(2) encourage the continued improvement and evolution of the metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes by metropolitan planning organizations, State departments of transportation, and public transit operators as guided by the planning factors identified in subsection (h) and section 5304 (d).
(b) Definitions.— 
In this section and section 5304, the following definitions apply:
(1) Metropolitan planning area.— 
The term metropolitan planning area means the geographic area determined by agreement between the metropolitan planning organization for the area and the Governor under subsection (e).
(2) Metropolitan planning organization.— 
The term metropolitan planning organization means the policy board of an organization created as a result of the designation process in subsection (d).
(3) Nonmetropolitan area.— 
The term nonmetropolitan area means a geographic area outside a designated metropolitan planning area.
(4) Nonmetropolitan local official.— 
The term nonmetropolitan local official means elected and appointed officials of general purpose local government in a nonmetropolitan area with responsibility for transportation.
(5) TIP.— 
The term TIP means a transportation improvement program developed by a metropolitan planning organization under subsection (j).
(6) Urbanized area.— 
The term urbanized area means a geographic area with a population of 50,000 or more, as designated by the Bureau of the Census.
(c) General Requirements.— 

(1) Development of long-range plans and tips.— 
To accomplish the objectives in subsection (a), metropolitan planning organizations designated under subsection (d), in cooperation with the State and public transportation operators, shall develop long-range transportation plans and transportation improvement programs for metropolitan planning areas of the State.
(2) Contents.— 
The plans and TIPs for each metropolitan area shall provide for the development and integrated management and operation of transportation systems and facilities (including accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities) that will function as an intermodal transportation system for the metropolitan planning area and as an integral part of an intermodal transportation system for the State and the United States.
(3) Process of development.— 
The process for developing the plans and TIPs shall provide for consideration of all modes of transportation and shall be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive to the degree appropriate, based on the complexity of the transportation problems to be addressed.
(d) Designation of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.— 

(1) In general.— 
To carry out the transportation planning process required by this section, a metropolitan planning organization shall be designated for each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 individuals
(A) by agreement between the Governor and units of general purpose local government that together represent at least 75 percent of the affected population (including the largest incorporated city (based on population) as named by the Bureau of the Census); or
(B) in accordance with procedures established by applicable State or local law.
(2) Structure.— 
Each metropolitan planning organization that serves an area designated as a transportation management area, when designated or redesignated under this subsection, shall consist of
(A) local elected officials;
(B) officials of public agencies that administer or operate major modes of transportation in the metropolitan area; and
(C) appropriate State officials.
(3) Limitation on statutory construction.— 
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the authority, under any State law in effect on December 18, 1991, of a public agency with multimodal transportation responsibilities to
(A) develop the plans and TIPs for adoption by a metropolitan planning organization; and
(B) develop long-range capital plans, coordinate transit services and projects, and carry out other activities pursuant to State law.
(4) Continuing designation.— 
A designation of a metropolitan planning organization under this subsection or any other provision of law shall remain in effect until the metropolitan planning organization is redesignated under paragraph (5).
(5) Redesignation procedures.— 
A metropolitan planning organization may be redesignated by agreement between the Governor and units of general purpose local government that together represent at least 75 percent of the existing planning area population (including the largest incorporated city (based on population) as named by the Bureau of the Census) as appropriate to carry out this section.
(6) Designation of more than one metropolitan planning organization.— 
More than one metropolitan planning organization may be designated within an existing metropolitan planning area only if the Governor and the existing metropolitan planning organization determine that the size and complexity of the existing metropolitan planning area make designation of more than one metropolitan planning organization for the area appropriate.
(e) Metropolitan Planning Area Boundaries.— 

(1) In general.— 
For the purposes of this section, the boundaries of a metropolitan planning area shall be determined by agreement between the metropolitan planning organization and the Governor.
(2) Included area.— 
Each metropolitan planning area
(A) shall encompass at least the existing urbanized area and the contiguous area expected to become urbanized within a 20-year forecast period for the transportation plan; and
(B) may encompass the entire metropolitan statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census.
(3) Identification of new urbanized areas within existing planning area boundaries.— 
The designation by the Bureau of the Census of new urbanized areas within an existing metropolitan planning area shall not require the redesignation of the existing metropolitan planning organization.
(4) Existing metropolitan planning areas in nonattainment.— 
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), in the case of an urbanized area designated as a nonattainment area for ozone or carbon monoxide under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) as of the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the boundaries of the metropolitan planning area in existence as of such date of enactment shall be retained; except that the boundaries may be adjusted by agreement of the Governor and affected metropolitan planning organizations in the manner described in subsection (d)(5).
(5) New metropolitan planning areas in nonattainment.— 
In the case of an urbanized area designated after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005 as a nonattainment area for ozone or carbon monoxide, the boundaries of the metropolitan planning area
(A) shall be established in the manner described in subsection (d)(1);
(B) shall encompass the areas described in paragraph (2)(A);
(C) may encompass the areas described in paragraph (2)(B); and
(D) may address any nonattainment area identified under the Clean Air Act for ozone or carbon monoxide.
(f) Coordination in Multistate Areas.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary shall encourage each Governor with responsibility for a portion of a multistate metropolitan area and the appropriate metropolitan planning organizations to provide coordinated transportation planning for the entire metropolitan area.
(2) Interstate compacts.— 
The consent of Congress is granted to any two or more States
(A) to enter into agreements or compacts, not in conflict with any law of the United States, for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in support of activities authorized under this section as the activities pertain to interstate areas and localities within the States; and
(B) to establish such agencies, joint or otherwise, as the States may determine desirable for making the agreements and compacts effective.
(3) Lake tahoe region.— 

(A) Definition.— 
In this paragraph, the term Lake Tahoe region has the meaning given the term region in subdivision (a) of article II of the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, as set forth in the first section of Public Law 96551 (94 Stat. 3234).
(B) Transportation planning process.— 
The Secretary shall
(i) establish with the Federal land management agencies that have jurisdiction over land in the Lake Tahoe region a transportation planning process for the region; and
(ii) coordinate the transportation planning process with the planning process required of State and local governments under this section and section 5304.
(C) Interstate compact.— 

(i) In general.— 
Subject to clause (ii), and notwithstanding subsection (b), to carry out the transportation planning process required by this section, the consent of Congress is granted to the States of California and Nevada to designate a metropolitan planning organization for the Lake Tahoe region, by agreement between the Governors of the States of California and Nevada and units of general purpose local government that together represent at least 75 percent of the affected population (including the central city or cities (as defined by the Bureau of the Census)), or in accordance with procedures established by applicable State or local law.
(ii) Involvement of federal land management agencies.— 

(I) Representation.— 
The policy board of a metropolitan planning organization designated under clause (i) shall include a representative of each Federal land management agency that has jurisdiction over land in the Lake Tahoe region.
(II) Funding.— 
In addition to funds made available to the metropolitan planning organization for the Lake Tahoe region under other provisions of this chapter and title 23, 1 percent of the funds allocated under section 202 of title 23 shall be used to carry out the transportation planning process for the Lake Tahoe region under this subparagraph.
(D) Activities.— 
Highway projects included in transportation plans developed under this paragraph
(i) shall be selected for funding in a manner that facilitates the participation of the Federal land management agencies that have jurisdiction over land in the Lake Tahoe region; and
(ii) may, in accordance with chapter 2 of title 23, be funded using funds allocated under section 202 of such title.
(4) Reservation of rights.— 
The right to alter, amend, or repeal interstate compacts entered into under this subsection is expressly reserved.
(g) MPO Consultation in Plan and TIP Coordination.— 

(1) Nonattainment areas.— 
If more than one metropolitan planning organization has authority within a metropolitan area or an area which is designated as a nonattainment area for ozone or carbon monoxide under the Clean Air Act, each metropolitan planning organization shall consult with the other metropolitan planning organizations designated for such area and the State in the coordination of plans and TIPs required by this section.
(2) Transportation improvements located in multiple mpos.— 
If a transportation improvement, funded from the Highway Trust Fund or authorized under this chapter, is located within the boundaries of more than one metropolitan planning area, the metropolitan planning organizations shall coordinate plans and TIPs regarding the transportation improvement.
(3) Relationship with other planning officials.— 
The Secretary shall encourage each metropolitan planning organization to consult with officials responsible for other types of planning activities that are affected by transportation in the area (including State and local planned growth, economic development, environmental protection, airport operations, and freight movements) or to coordinate its planning process, to the maximum extent practicable, with such planning activities. Under the metropolitan planning process, transportation plans and TIPs shall be developed with due consideration of other related planning activities within the metropolitan area, and the process shall provide for the design and delivery of transportation services within the metropolitan area that are provided by
(A) recipients of assistance under this chapter;
(B) governmental agencies and nonprofit">nonprofit organizations (including representatives of the agencies and organizations) that receive Federal assistance from a source other than the Department of Transportation to provide nonemergency transportation services; and
(C) recipients of assistance under section 204 of title 23.
(h) Scope of Planning Process.— 

(1) In general.— 
The metropolitan planning process for a metropolitan planning area under this section shall provide for consideration of projects and strategies that will
(A) support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;
(B) increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
(C) increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
(D) increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight;
(E) protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
(F) enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight;
(G) promote efficient system management and operation; and
(H) emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.
(2) Failure to consider factors.— 
The failure to consider any factor specified in paragraph (1) shall not be reviewable by any court under this chapter, title 23, subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, or chapter 7 of title 5 in any matter affecting a transportation plan, a TIP, a project or strategy, or the certification of a planning process.
(i) Development of Transportation Plan.— 

(1) In general.— 
Each metropolitan planning organization shall prepare a transportation plan for its metropolitan planning area in accordance with the requirements of this subsection. The metropolitan planning organization shall prepare and update such plan every 4 years (or more frequently, if the metropolitan planning organization elects to update more frequently) in the case of each of the following:
(A) Any area designated as nonattainment, as defined in section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7407 (d)).
(B) Any area that was nonattainment and subsequently designated to attainment in accordance with section 107(d)(3) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 7407 (d)(3)) and that is subject to a maintenance plan under section 175A of that Act (42 U.S.C. 7505a).

In the case of any other area required to have a transportation plan in accordance with the requirements of this subsection, the metropolitan planning organization shall prepare and update such plan every 5 years unless the metropolitan planning organization elects to update more frequently.

(2) Transportation plan.— 
A transportation plan under this section shall be in a form that the Secretary determines to be appropriate and shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
(A) Identification of transportation facilities.— 
An identification of transportation facilities (including major roadways, transit, multimodal and intermodal facilities, and intermodal connectors) that should function as an integrated metropolitan transportation system, giving emphasis to those facilities that serve important national and regional transportation functions. In formulating the transportation plan, the metropolitan planning organization shall consider factors described in subsection (h) as such factors relate to a 20-year forecast period.
(B) Mitigation activities.— 

(i) In general.— 
A long-range transportation plan shall include a discussion of types of potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas to carry out these activities, including activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the environmental functions affected by the plan.
(ii) Consultation.— 
The discussion shall be developed in consultation with Federal, State, and tribal wildlife, land management, and regulatory agencies.
(C) Financial plan.— 
A financial plan that demonstrates how the adopted transportation plan can be implemented, indicates resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the plan, and recommends any additional financing strategies for needed projects and programs. The financial plan may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that would be included in the adopted transportation plan if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in the financial plan were available. For the purpose of developing the transportation plan, the metropolitan planning organization, transit operator, and State shall cooperatively develop estimates of funds that will be available to support plan implementation.
(D) Operational and management strategies.— 
Operational and management strategies to improve the performance of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the safety and mobility of people and goods.
(E) Capital investment and other strategies.— 
Capital investment and other strategies to preserve the existing and projected future metropolitan transportation infrastructure and provide for multimodal capacity increases based on regional priorities and needs.
(F) Transportation and transit enhancement activities.— 
Proposed transportation and transit enhancement activities.
(3) Coordination with clean air act agencies.— 
In metropolitan areas which are in nonattainment for ozone or carbon monoxide under the Clean Air Act, the metropolitan planning organization shall coordinate the development of a transportation plan with the process for development of the transportation control measures of the State implementation plan required by the Clean Air Act.
(4) Consultation.— 

(A) In general.— 
In each metropolitan area, the metropolitan planning organization shall consult, as appropriate, with State and local agencies responsible for land use management, natural resources, environmental protection, conservation, and historic preservation concerning the development of a long-range transportation plan.
(B) Issues.— 
The consultation shall involve, as appropriate
(i) comparison of transportation plans with State conservation plans or maps, if available; or
(ii) comparison of transportation plans to inventories of natural or historic resources, if available.
(5) Participation by interested parties.— 

(A) In general.— 
Each metropolitan planning organization shall provide citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the transportation plan.
(B) Contents of participation plan.— 
A participation plan
(i) shall be developed in consultation with all interested parties; and
(ii) shall provide that all interested parties have reasonable opportunities to comment on the contents of the transportation plan.
(C) Methods.— 
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the metropolitan planning organization shall, to the maximum extent practicable
(i) hold any public meetings at convenient and accessible locations and times;
(ii) employ visualization techniques to describe plans; and
(iii) make public information available in electronically accessible format and means, such as the World Wide Web, as appropriate to afford reasonable opportunity for consideration of public information under subparagraph (A).
(6) Publication.— 
A transportation plan involving Federal participation shall be published or otherwise made readily available by the metropolitan planning organization for public review, including (to the maximum extent practicable) in electronically accessible formats and means, such as the World Wide Web, approved by the metropolitan planning organization and submitted for information purposes to the Governor at such times and in such manner as the Secretary shall establish.
(7) Selection of projects from illustrative list.— 
Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(C), a State or metropolitan planning organization shall not be required to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under paragraph (2)(C).
(j) Metropolitan Tip.— 

(1) Development.— 

(A) In general.— 
In cooperation with the State and any affected public transportation operator, the metropolitan planning organization designated for a metropolitan area shall develop a TIP for the area for which the organization is designated.
(B) Opportunity for comment.— 
In developing the TIP, the metropolitan planning organization, in cooperation with the State and any affected public transportation operator, shall provide an opportunity for participation by interested parties in the development of the program, in accordance with subsection (i)(5).
(C) Funding estimates.— 
For the purpose of developing the TIP, the metropolitan planning organization, public transportation agency, and State shall cooperatively develop estimates of funds that are reasonably expected to be available to support program implementation.
(D) Updating and approval.— 
The TIP shall be updated at least once every 4 years and shall be approved by the metropolitan planning organization and the Governor.
(2) Contents.— 

(A) Priority list.— 
The TIP shall include a priority list of proposed federally supported projects and strategies to be carried out within each 4-year period after the initial adoption of the TIP.
(B) Financial plan.— 
The TIP shall include a financial plan that
(i) demonstrates how the TIP can be implemented;
(ii) indicates resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be available to carry out the program;
(iii) identifies innovative financing techniques to finance projects, programs, and strategies; and
(iv) may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that would be included in the approved TIP if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in the financial plan were available.
(C) Descriptions.— 
Each project in the TIP shall include sufficient descriptive material (such as type of work, termini, length, and other similar factors) to identify the project or phase of the project.
(3) Included projects.— 

(A) Projects under this chapter and title 23.— 
A TIP developed under this subsection for a metropolitan area shall include the projects within the area that are proposed for funding under this chapter and chapter 1 of title 23.
(B) Projects under chapter 2 of title 23.— 

(i) Regionally significant projects.— 
Regionally significant projects proposed for funding under chapter 2 of title 23 shall be identified individually in the transportation improvement program.
(ii) Other projects.— 
Projects proposed for funding under chapter 2 of title 23 that are not determined to be regionally significant shall be grouped in one line item or identified individually in the transportation improvement program.
(C) Consistency with long-range transportation plan.— 
Each project shall be consistent with the long-range transportation plan developed under subsection (i) for the area.
(D) Requirement of anticipated full funding.— 
The program shall include a project, or an identified phase of a project, only if full funding can reasonably be anticipated to be available for the project within the time period contemplated for completion of the project.
(4) Notice and comment.— 
Before approving a TIP, a metropolitan planning organization, in cooperation with the State and any affected public transportation operator, shall provide an opportunity for participation by interested parties in the development of the program, in accordance with subsection (i)(5).
(5) Selection of projects.— 

(A) In general.— 
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k)(4) and in addition to the TIP development required under paragraph (1), the selection of federally funded projects in metropolitan areas shall be carried out, from the approved TIP
(i) by
(I) in the case of projects under title 23, the State; and
(II) in the case of projects under this chapter, the designated recipients of public transportation funding; and
(ii) in cooperation with the metropolitan planning organization.
(B) Modifications to project priority.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, action by the Secretary shall not be required to advance a project included in the approved TIP in place of another project in the program.
(6) Selection of projects from illustrative list.— 

(A) No required selection.— 
Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(B)(iv), a State or metropolitan planning organization shall not be required to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under paragraph (2)(B)(iv).
(B) Required action by the secretary.— 
Action by the Secretary shall be required for a State or metropolitan planning organization to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under paragraph (2)(B)(iv) for inclusion in an approved TIP.
(7) Publication.— 

(A) Publication of tips.— 
A TIP involving Federal participation shall be published or otherwise made readily available by the metropolitan planning organization for public review.
(B) Publication of annual listings of projects.— 
An annual listing of projects, including investments in pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, for which Federal funds have been obligated in the preceding year shall be published or otherwise made available by the cooperative effort of the State, transit operator, and metropolitan planning organization for public review. The listing shall be consistent with the categories identified in the TIP.
(C) Rulemaking.— 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Secretary shall issue regulations setting standards for the listing required by subparagraph (B) and specifying the types of data to be included in such list, including sufficient information about each project to identify its type, location, and amount obligated.
(k) Transportation Management Areas.— 

(1) Identification and designation.— 

(A) Required identification.— 
The Secretary shall identify as a transportation management area each urbanized area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census) with a population of over 200,000 individuals.
(B) Designations on request.— 
The Secretary shall designate any additional area as a transportation management area on the request of the Governor and the metropolitan planning organization designated for the area.
(2) Transportation plans.— 
In a metropolitan planning area serving a transportation management area, transportation plans shall be based on a continuing and comprehensive transportation planning process carried out by the metropolitan planning organization in cooperation with the State and public transportation operators.
(3) Congestion management process.— 
Within a metropolitan planning area serving a transportation management area, the transportation planning process under this section shall address congestion management through a process that provides for effective management and operation, based on a cooperatively developed and implemented metropolitan-wide strategy, of new and existing transportation facilities eligible for funding under this chapter and title 23 through the use of travel demand reduction and operational management strategies. The Secretary shall establish an appropriate phase-in schedule for compliance with the requirements of this section but no sooner than one year after the identification of a transportation management area.
(4) Selection of projects.— 

(A) In general.— 
All federally funded projects carried out within the boundaries of a metropolitan planning area serving a transportation management area under title 23 (excluding projects carried out on the National Highway System and projects carried out under the bridge program or the Interstate maintenance program) or under this chapter shall be selected for implementation from the approved TIP by the metropolitan planning organization designated for the area in consultation with the State and any affected public transportation operator.
(B) National highway system projects.— 
Projects carried out within the boundaries of a metropolitan planning area serving a transportation management area on the National Highway System and projects carried out within such boundaries under the bridge program or the Interstate maintenance program under title 23 shall be selected for implementation from the approved TIP by the State in cooperation with the metropolitan planning organization designated for the area.
(5) Certification.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall
(i) ensure that the metropolitan planning process of a metropolitan planning organization serving a transportation management area is being carried out in accordance with applicable provisions of Federal law; and
(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), certify, not less often than once every 4 years, that the requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to the metropolitan planning process.
(B) Requirements for certification.— 
The Secretary may make the certification under subparagraph (A) if
(i) the transportation planning process complies with the requirements of this section and other applicable requirements of Federal law; and
(ii) there is a TIP for the metropolitan planning area that has been approved by the metropolitan planning organization and the Governor.
(C) Effect of failure to certify.— 

(i) Withholding of project funds.— 
If a metropolitan planning process of a metropolitan planning organization serving a transportation management area is not certified, the Secretary may withhold up to 20 percent of the funds attributable to the metropolitan planning area of the metropolitan planning organization for projects funded under this chapter and title 23.
(ii) Restoration of withheld funds.— 
The withheld funds shall be restored to the metropolitan planning area at such time as the metropolitan planning process is certified by the Secretary.
(D) Review of certification.— 
In making certification determinations under this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide for public involvement appropriate to the metropolitan area under review.
(l) Abbreviated Plans for Certain Areas.— 

(1) In general.— 
Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a metropolitan area not designated as a transportation management area under this section, the Secretary may provide for the development of an abbreviated transportation plan and TIP for the metropolitan planning area that the Secretary determines is appropriate to achieve the purposes of this section, taking into account the complexity of transportation problems in the area.
(2) Nonattainment areas.— 
The Secretary may not permit abbreviated plans or TIPs for a metropolitan area that is in nonattainment for ozone or carbon monoxide under the Clean Air Act.
(m) Additional Requirements for Certain Nonattainment Areas.— 

(1) In general.— 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or title 23, for transportation management areas classified as nonattainment for ozone or carbon monoxide pursuant to the Clean Air Act, Federal funds may not be advanced in such area for any highway project that will result in a significant increase in the carrying capacity for single-occupant vehicles unless the project is addressed through a congestion management process.
(2) Applicability.— 
This subsection applies to a nonattainment area within the metropolitan planning area boundaries determined under subsection (e).
(n) Limitation on Statutory Construction.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer on a metropolitan planning organization the authority to impose legal requirements on any transportation facility, provider, or project not eligible under this chapter or title 23.
(o) Funding.— 
Funds set aside under section 5305 (g) of this title or section 104 (f) of title 23 shall be available to carry out this section.
(p) Continuation of Current Review Practice.— 
Since plans and TIPs described in this section are subject to a reasonable opportunity for public comment, since individual projects included in plans and TIPs are subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and since decisions by the Secretary concerning plans and TIPs described in this section have not been reviewed under such Act as of January 1, 1997, any decision by the Secretary concerning a plan or TIP described in this section shall not be considered to be a Federal action subject to review under such Act.

49 USC 5304 - Statewide transportation planning

(a) General Requirements.— 

(1) Development of plans and programs.— 
To accomplish the objectives stated in section 5303 (a), each State shall develop a statewide transportation plan and a statewide transportation improvement program for all areas of the State, subject to section 5303.
(2) Contents.— 
The statewide transportation plan and the transportation improvement program developed for each State shall provide for the development and integrated management and operation of transportation systems and facilities (including accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities) that will function as an intermodal transportation system for the State and an integral part of an intermodal transportation system for the United States.
(3) Process of development.— 
The process for developing the statewide plan and the transportation improvement program shall provide for consideration of all modes of transportation and the policies stated in section 5303 (a), and shall be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive to the degree appropriate, based on the complexity of the transportation problems to be addressed.
(b) Coordination With Metropolitan Planning; State Implementation Plan.— 
A State shall
(1) coordinate planning carried out under this section with the transportation planning activities carried out under section 5303 for metropolitan areas of the State and with statewide trade and economic development planning activities and related multistate planning efforts; and
(2) develop the transportation portion of the State implementation plan as required by the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
(c) Interstate Agreements.— 

(1) In general.— 
The consent of Congress is granted to 2 or more States entering into agreements or compacts, not in conflict with any law of the United States, for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in support of activities authorized under this section related to interstate areas and localities in the States and establishing authorities the States consider desirable for making the agreements and compacts effective.
(2) Reservation of rights.— 
The right to alter, amend, or repeal interstate compacts entered into under this subsection is expressly reserved.
(d) Scope of Planning Process.— 

(1) In general.— 
Each State shall carry out a statewide transportation planning process that provides for consideration and implementation of projects, strategies, and services that will
(A) support the economic vitality of the United States, the States, nonmetropolitan areas, and metropolitan areas, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;
(B) increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
(C) increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
(D) increase the accessibility and mobility of people and freight;
(E) protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
(F) enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes throughout the State, for people and freight;
(G) promote efficient system management and operation; and
(H) emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.
(2) Failure to consider factors.— 
The failure to consider any factor specified in paragraph (1) shall not be reviewable by any court under this chapter, title 23, subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, or chapter 7 of title 5 in any matter affecting a statewide transportation plan, the transportation improvement program, a project or strategy, or the certification of a planning process.
(e) Additional Requirements.— 
In carrying out planning under this section, each State shall consider, at a minimum
(1) with respect to nonmetropolitan areas, the concerns of affected local officials with responsibility for transportation;
(2) the concerns of Indian tribal governments and Federal land management agencies that have jurisdiction over land within the boundaries of the State; and
(3) coordination of transportation plans, the transportation improvement program, and planning activities with related planning activities being carried out outside of metropolitan planning areas and between States.
(f) Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan.— 

(1) Development.— 
Each State shall develop a long-range statewide transportation plan, with a minimum 20-year forecast period for all areas of the State, that provides for the development and implementation of the intermodal transportation system of the State.
(2) Consultation with governments.— 

(A) Metropolitan areas.— 
The statewide transportation plan shall be developed for each metropolitan area in the State in cooperation with the metropolitan planning organization designated for the metropolitan area under section 5303.
(B) Nonmetropolitan areas.— 
With respect to nonmetropolitan areas, the statewide transportation plan shall be developed in consultation with affected nonmetropolitan officials with responsibility for transportation. The Secretary shall not review or approve the consultation process in each State.
(C) Indian tribal areas.— 
With respect to each area of the State under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government, the statewide transportation plan shall be developed in consultation with the tribal government and the Secretary of the Interior.
(D) Consultation, comparison, and consideration.— 

(i) In general.— 
The long-range transportation plan shall be developed, as appropriate, in consultation with State, tribal, and local agencies responsible for land use management, natural resources, environmental protection, conservation, and historic preservation.
(ii) Comparison and consideration.— 
Consultation under clause (i) shall involve comparison of transportation plans to State and tribal conservation plans or maps, if available, and comparison of transportation plans to inventories of natural or historic resources, if available.
(3) Participation by interested parties.— 

(A) In general.— 
In developing the statewide transportation plan, the State shall provide citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, providers of freight transportation services, and other interested parties with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed plan.
(B) Methods.— 
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the State shall, to the maximum extent practicable
(i) hold any public meetings at convenient and accessible locations and times;
(ii) employ visualization techniques to describe plans; and
(iii) make public information available in electronically accessible format and means, such as the World Wide Web, as appropriate to afford reasonable opportunity for consideration of public information under subparagraph (A).
(4) Mitigation activities.— 

(A) In general.— 
A long-range transportation plan shall include a discussion of potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas to carry out these activities, including activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the environmental functions affected by the plan.
(B) Consultation.— 
The discussion shall be developed in consultation with Federal, State, and tribal wildlife, land management, and regulatory agencies.
(5) Financial plan.— 
The statewide transportation plan may include a financial plan that demonstrates how the adopted statewide transportation plan can be implemented, indicates resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the plan, and recommends any additional financing strategies for needed projects and programs. The financial plan may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that would be included in the adopted statewide transportation plan if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in the financial plan were available.
(6) Selection of projects from illustrative list.— 
A State shall not be required to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan described in paragraph (5).
(7) Existing system.— 
The statewide transportation plan should include capital, operations and management strategies, investments, procedures, and other measures to ensure the preservation and most efficient use of the existing transportation system.
(8) Publication of long-range transportation plans.— 
Each long-range transportation plan prepared by a State shall be published or otherwise made available, including (to the maximum extent practicable) in electronically accessible formats and means, such as the World Wide Web.
(g) Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.— 

(1) Development.— 
Each State shall develop a statewide transportation improvement program for all areas of the State. Such program shall cover a period of 4 years and be updated every 4 years or more frequently if the Governor elects to update more frequently.
(2) Consultation with governments.— 

(A) Metropolitan areas.— 
With respect to each metropolitan area in the State, the program shall be developed in cooperation with the metropolitan planning organization designated for the metropolitan area under section 5303.
(B) Nonmetropolitan areas.— 
With respect to each nonmetropolitan area in the State, the program shall be developed in consultation with affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation. The Secretary shall not review or approve the specific consultation process in the State.
(C) Indian tribal areas.— 
With respect to each area of the State under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government, the program shall be developed in consultation with the tribal government and the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) Participation by interested parties.— 
In developing the program, the State shall provide citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, private providers of transportation, providers of freight transportation services, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed program.
(4) Included projects.— 

(A) In general.— 
A transportation improvement program developed under this subsection for a State shall include federally supported surface transportation expenditures within the boundaries of the State.
(B) Listing of projects.— 
An annual listing of projects for which funds have been obligated in the preceding year in each metropolitan planning area shall be published or otherwise made available by the cooperative effort of the State, transit operator, and the metropolitan planning organization for public review. The listing shall be consistent with the funding categories identified in each metropolitan transportation improvement program.
(C) Projects under chapter 2 of title 23.— 

(i) Regionally significant projects.— 
Regionally significant projects proposed for funding under chapter 2 of title 23 shall be identified individually in the transportation improvement program.
(ii) Other projects.— 
Projects proposed for funding under chapter 2 of title 23 that are not determined to be regionally significant shall be grouped in 1 line item or identified individually in the transportation improvement program.
(D) Consistency with statewide transportation plan.— 
Each project shall be
(i) consistent with the statewide transportation plan developed under this section for the State;
(ii) identical to the project or phase of the project as described in an approved metropolitan transportation plan; and
(iii) in conformance with the applicable State air quality implementation plan developed under the Clean Air Act, if the project is carried out in an area designated as nonattainment for ozone, particulate matter, or carbon monoxide under that Act.
(E) Requirement of anticipated full funding.— 
The transportation improvement program shall include a project, or an identified phase of a project, only if full funding can reasonably be anticipated to be available for the project within the time period contemplated for completion of the project.
(F) Financial plan.— 
The transportation improvement program may include a financial plan that demonstrates how the approved transportation improvement program can be implemented, indicates resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the transportation improvement program, and recommends any additional financing strategies for needed projects and programs. The financial plan may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that would be included in the adopted transportation plan if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in the financial plan were available.
(G) Selection of projects from illustrative list.— 

(i) No required selection.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (F), a State shall not be required to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under subparagraph (F).
(ii) Required action by the secretary.— 
Action by the Secretary shall be required for a State to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under subparagraph (F) for inclusion in an approved transportation improvement program.
(H) Priorities.— 
The transportation improvement program shall reflect the priorities for programming and expenditures of funds, including transportation enhancement activities, required by this chapter and title 23.
(5) Project selection for areas of less than 50,000 population.— 
Projects carried out in areas with populations of less than 50,000 individuals shall be selected, from the approved transportation improvement program (excluding projects carried out on the National Highway System and projects carried out under the bridge program or the Interstate maintenance program under title 23 or sections 5310, 5311, 5316, and 5317 of this title) by the State in cooperation with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation. Projects carried out in areas with populations of less than 50,000 individuals on the National Highway System or under the bridge program or the Interstate maintenance program under title 23 or sections 5310, 5311, 5316, and 5317 of this title shall be selected, from the approved statewide transportation improvement program, by the State in consultation with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation.
(6) Transportation improvement program approval.— 
Every 4 years, a transportation improvement program developed under this subsection shall be reviewed and approved by the Secretary if based on a current planning finding.
(7) Planning finding.— 
A finding shall be made by the Secretary at least every 4 years that the transportation planning process through which statewide transportation plans and programs are developed is consistent with this section and section 5303.
(8) Modifications to project priority.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, action by the Secretary shall not be required to advance a project included in the approved transportation improvement program in place of another project in the program.
(h) Funding.— 
Funds set aside pursuant to section 5305 (g) of this title and section 104 (i) of title 23 shall be available to carry out this section.
(i) Treatment of Certain State Laws as Congestion Management Processes.— 
For purposes of this section and section 5303, and sections 134 and 135 of title 23, State laws, rules, or regulations pertaining to congestion management systems or programs may constitute the congestion management process under this section and section 5303, and sections 134 and 135 of title 23, if the Secretary finds that the State laws, rules, or regulations are consistent with, and fulfill the intent of, the purposes of this section, section 5303, and sections 134 and 135 of title 23, as appropriate.
(j) Continuation of Current Review Practice.— 
Since the statewide transportation plan and the transportation improvement program described in this section are subject to a reasonable opportunity for public comment, since individual projects included in the statewide transportation plans and the transportation improvement program are subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and since decisions by the Secretary concerning statewide transportation plans or the transportation improvement program described in this section have not been reviewed under such Act as of January 1, 1997, any decision by the Secretary concerning a metropolitan or statewide transportation plan or the transportation improvement program described in this section shall not be considered to be a Federal action subject to review under such Act.

49 USC 5305 - Planning programs

(a) State Defined.— 
In this section, the term State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
(b) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants and agreements.— 
Under criteria established by the Secretary, the Secretary may award grants to States, authorities of the States, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governmental authorities, and make agreements with other departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the Government to
(A) develop transportation plans and programs;
(B) plan, engineer, design, and evaluate a public transportation project; and
(C) conduct technical studies relating to public transportation.
(2) Eligible activities.— 
Activities eligible under paragraph (1) include the following:
(A) Studies related to management, planning, operations, capital requirements, and economic feasibility.
(B) Evaluating previously financed projects.
(C) Peer reviews and exchanges of technical data, information, assistance, and related activities in support of planning and environmental analyses among metropolitan planning organizations and other transportation planners.
(D) Other similar and related activities preliminary to and in preparation for constructing, acquiring, or improving the operation of facilities and equipment.
(c) Purpose.— 
To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that amounts appropriated or made available under section 5338 to carry out this section and sections 5303, 5304, and 5306 are used to support balanced and comprehensive transportation planning that considers the relationships among land use and all transportation modes, without regard to the programmatic source of the planning amounts.
(d) Metropolitan Planning Program.— 

(1) Apportionment to states.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall apportion 80 percent of the amounts made available under subsection (g)(1) among the States to carry out sections 5303 and 5306 in the ratio that
(i) the population of urbanized areas in each State, as shown by the latest available decennial census of population; bears to
(ii) the total population of urbanized areas in all States, as shown by that census.
(B) Minimum apportionment.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a State may not receive less than 0.5 percent of the amount apportioned under this paragraph.
(2) Allocation to mpo’s.— 
Amounts apportioned to a State under paragraph (1) shall be made available, not later than 30 days after the date of apportionment, to metropolitan planning organizations in the State designated under this section under a formula that
(A) considers population of urbanized areas;
(B) provides an appropriate distribution for urbanized areas to carry out the cooperative processes described in this section;
(C) the State develops in cooperation with the metropolitan planning organizations; and
(D) the Secretary approves.
(3) Supplemental amounts.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall apportion 20 percent of the amounts made available under subsection (g)(1) among the States to supplement allocations made under paragraph (1) for metropolitan planning organizations.
(B) Formula.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts referred to in subparagraph (A) under a formula that reflects the additional cost of carrying out planning, programming, and project selection responsibilities under sections 5303 and 5306 in certain urbanized areas.
(e) State Planning and Research Program.— 

(1) Apportionment to states.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall apportion the amounts made available under subsection (g)(2) among the States for grants and contracts to carry out this section and sections 5304, 5306, 5315, and 5322 in the ratio that
(i) the population of urbanized areas in each State, as shown by the latest available decennial census; bears to
(ii) the population of urbanized areas in all States, as shown by that census.
(B) Minimum apportionment.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a State may not receive less than 0.5 percent of the amount apportioned under this paragraph.
(2) Supplemental amounts.— 
A State, as the State considers appropriate, may authorize part of the amount made available under this subsection to be used to supplement amounts made available under subsection (d).
(f) Government’s Share of Costs.— 
The Governments share of the cost of an activity funded using amounts made available under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the cost of the activity unless the Secretary determines that it is in the interests of the Government not to require a State or local match.
(g) Allocation of Funds.— 
Of the funds made available by or appropriated to carry out this section under section 5338 (c) for fiscal years 2005 through 2009
(1) 82.72 percent shall be available for the metropolitan planning program under subsection (d); and
(2) 17.28 percent shall be available to carry out subsection (e).
(h) Availability of Funds.— 
Funds apportioned under this section to a State that have not been obligated in the 3-year period beginning after the last day of the fiscal year for which the funds are authorized shall be reapportioned among the States.

49 USC 5306 - Private enterprise participation in metropolitan planning and transportation improvement programs and relationship to other limitations

(a) Private Enterprise Participation.— 
A plan or program required by section 5303, 5304, or 5305 of this title shall encourage to the maximum extent feasible, as determined by local policies, criteria, and decisionmaking, the participation of private enterprise. If equipment or a facility already being used in an urban area is to be acquired under this chapter, the program shall provide that it be improved so that it will better serve the transportation needs of the area.
(b) Relationship to Other Limitations.— 
Sections 5303–5305 of this title do not authorize
(1) a metropolitan planning organization to impose a legal requirement on a transportation facility, provider, or project not eligible under this chapter or title 23; and
(2) intervention in the management of a transportation authority.

49 USC 5307 - Urbanized area formula grants

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Associated capital maintenance items.— 
The term associated capital maintenance items means
(A) equipment, tires, tubes, and material, each costing at least .5 percent of the current fair market value of rolling stock comparable to the rolling stock for which the equipment, tires, tubes, and material are to be used; and
(B) reconstruction of equipment and material, each of which after reconstruction will have a fair market value of at least .5 percent of the current fair market value of rolling stock comparable to the rolling stock for which the equipment and material will be used.
(2) Designated recipient.— 
The term designated recipient means
(A) an entity designated, in accordance with the planning process under sections 5303, 5304, and 5306, by the chief executive officer of a State, responsible local officials, and publicly owned operators of public transportation, to receive and apportion amounts under section 5336 that are attributable to transportation management areas identified under section 5303; or
(B) a State or regional authority if the authority is responsible under the laws of a State for a capital project and for financing and directly providing public transportation.
(b) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants.— 
The Secretary may make grants under this section for
(A) capital projects and associated capital maintenance items;
(B) planning;
(C) transit enhancements;
(D) operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000;
(E) operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in a portion or portions of an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000, but not more than 225,000, if
(i) the urbanized area includes parts of more than one State;
(ii) the portion of the urbanized area includes only one State;
(iii) the population of the portion of the urbanized area is less than 30,000; and
(iv) the grants will not be used to provide public transportation outside of the portion of the urbanized area; and
(F) operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation for local governmental authorities in areas which adopted transit operating and financing plans that became a part of the Houston, Texas, urbanized area as a result of the 2000 decennial census of population, but lie outside the service area of the principal public transportation agency that serves the Houston urbanized area.
(2) Special rule for fiscal years 2005 through 2007.— 

(A) Increased flexibility.— 
The Secretary may award grants under this section, from funds made available to carry out this section for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2007, to finance the operating cost of equipment and facilities for use in mass transportation in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000, as determined by the 2000 decennial census of population, if
(i) the urbanized area had a population of less than 200,000, as determined by the 1990 decennial census of population;
(ii) a portion of the urbanized area was a separate urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, as determined by the 1990 decennial census of population;
(iii) the area was not designated as an urbanized area, as determined by the 1990 decennial census of population; or
(iv) a portion of the area was not designated as an urbanized area, as determined by the 1990 decennial census, and received assistance under section 5311 in fiscal year 2002.
(B) Maximum amounts in fiscal year 2005.— 
In fiscal year 2005
(i) amounts made available to any urbanized area under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be not more than the amount apportioned in fiscal year 2002 to the urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, as determined in the 1990 decennial census of population;
(ii) amounts made available to any urbanized area under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be not more than the amount apportioned to the urbanized area under this section for fiscal year 2003; and
(iii) each portion of any area not designated as an urbanized area, as determined by the 1990 decennial census, and eligible to receive funds under subparagraph (A)(iv), shall receive an amount of funds to carry out this section that is not less than the amount the portion of the area received under section 5311 for fiscal year 2002.
(C) Maximum amounts in fiscal year 2006.— 
In fiscal year 2006
(i) amounts made available to any urbanized area under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be not more than 50 percent of the amount apportioned in fiscal year 2002 to the urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, as determined in the 1990 decennial census of population;
(ii) amounts made available to any urbanized area under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be not more than 50 percent of the amount apportioned to the urbanized area under this section for fiscal year 2003; and
(iii) each portion of any area not designated as an urbanized area, as determined by the 1990 decennial census, and eligible to receive funds under subparagraph (A)(iv), shall receive an amount of funds to carry out this section that is not less than 50 percent of the amount the portion of the area received under section 5311 for fiscal year 2002.
(D) Maximum amounts in fiscal year 2007.— 
In fiscal year 2007
(i) amounts made available to any urbanized area under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be not more than 25 percent of the amount apportioned in fiscal year 2002 to the urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, as determined in the 1990 decennial census of population;
(ii) amounts made available to any urbanized area under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be not more than 25 percent of the amount apportioned to the urbanized area under this section for fiscal year 2003; and
(iii) each portion of any area not designated as an urbanized area, as determined by the 1990 decennial census, and eligible to receive funds under subparagraph (A)(iv), shall receive an amount of funds to carry out this section that is not less than 25 percent of the amount the portion of the area received under section 5311 in fiscal year 2002.
(3) In a transportation management area designated under section 5305 (a) of this title,[1] amounts that cannot be used to pay operating expenses under this section also are available for a highway project if
(A) that use is approved, in writing, by the metropolitan planning organization under section 5303 of this title after appropriate notice and an opportunity for comment and appeal is provided to affected public transportation providers;
(B) the Secretary decides the amounts are not needed for investment required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); and
(C) the metropolitan planning organization in approving the use under subparagraph (A) determines that the local transit needs are being addressed.
(c) Public Participation Requirements.— 
Each recipient of a grant shall
(1) make available to the public information on amounts available to the recipient under this section and the program of projects the recipient proposes to undertake;
(2) develop, in consultation with interested parties, including private transportation providers, a proposed program of projects for activities to be financed;
(3) publish a proposed program of projects in a way that affected citizens, private transportation providers, and local elected officials have the opportunity to examine the proposed program and submit comments on the proposed program and the performance of the recipient;
(4) provide an opportunity for a public hearing in which to obtain the views of citizens on the proposed program of projects;
(5) ensure that the proposed program of projects provides for the coordination of public transportation services assisted under section 5336 of this title with transportation services assisted from other United States Government sources;
(6) consider comments and views received, especially those of private transportation providers, in preparing the final program of projects; and
(7) make the final program of projects available to the public.
(d) Grant Recipient Requirements.— 
A recipient may receive a grant in a fiscal year only if
(1) the recipient, within the time the Secretary prescribes, submits a final program of projects prepared under subsection (c) of this section and a certification for that fiscal year that the recipient (including a person receiving amounts from a chief executive officer of a State under this section)
(A) has or will have the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the program, including safety and security aspects of the program;
(B) has or will have satisfactory continuing control over the use of equipment and facilities;
(C) will maintain equipment and facilities;
(D) will ensure that elderly and handicapped individuals, or an individual presenting a medicare card issued to that individual under title II or XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1395 et seq.), will be charged during non-peak hours for transportation using or involving a facility or equipment of a project financed under this section not more than 50 percent of the peak hour fare;
(E) in carrying out a procurement under this section
(i) will use competitive procurement (as defined or approved by the Secretary);
(ii) will not use a procurement that uses exclusionary or discriminatory specifications;
(iii) will comply with applicable Buy America laws in carrying out a procurement; and
(iv) will comply with sections 5323 and 5325;
(F) has complied with subsection (c) of this section;
(G) has available and will provide the required amounts as provided by subsection (e) of this section;
(H) will comply with section 5301 (a), section 5301(d), and sections 5303 through 5306;
(I) has a locally developed process to solicit and consider public comment before raising a fare or carrying out a major reduction of transportation;
(J) 
(i) will expend for each fiscal year for public transportation security projects, including increased lighting in or adjacent to a public transportation system (including bus stops, subway stations, parking lots, and garages), increased camera surveillance of an area in or adjacent to that system, providing an emergency telephone line to contact law enforcement or security personnel in an area in or adjacent to that system, and any other project intended to increase the security and safety of an existing or planned public transportation system, at least one percent of the amount the recipient receives for each fiscal year under section 5336 of this title; or
(ii) has decided that the expenditure for security projects is not necessary; and
(K) in the case of a recipient for an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000
(i) will expend not less than 1 percent of the amount the recipient receives each fiscal year under this section for transit enhancements, as defined in section 5302 (a); and
(ii) will submit an annual report listing projects carried out in the preceding fiscal year with those funds; and
(2) the Secretary accepts the certification.
(e) Government’s Share of Costs.— 

(1) Capital projects.— 
A grant for a capital project (including associated capital maintenance items) under this section shall be for 80 percent of the net project cost of the project. The recipient may provide additional local matching amounts.
(2) Operating expenses.— 
A grant for operating expenses under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the net project cost of the project.
(3) Remaining costs.— 
Subject to paragraph (4), the remainder of the net project cost shall be provided
(A) in cash from non-Government sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services;
(B) from revenues derived from the sale of advertising and concessions;
(C) from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, or new capital; and
(D) from amounts received under a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or private social service organization.
(4) Use of certain funds.— 
The prohibitions on the use of funds for matching requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(vii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603 (a)(5)(C)(vii)) shall not apply to the remainder.
(f) Statewide Operating Assistance.— 

(1) A State authority that is a designated recipient and providing public transportation in at least 2 urbanized areas may apply for operating assistance in an amount not more than the amount for all urbanized areas in which it provides transportation.
(2) When approving an application under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary may not reduce the amount of operating assistance approved for another State or a local transportation authority within the affected urbanized areas.
(g) Undertaking Projects in Advance.— 

(1) When a recipient obligates all amounts apportioned to it under section 5336 of this title and then carries out a part of a project described in this section (except a project for operating expenses) without amounts of the Government and according to all applicable procedures and requirements (except to the extent the procedures and requirements limit a State to carrying out a project with amounts of the Government previously apportioned to it), the Secretary may pay to the recipient the Governments share of the cost of carrying out that part when additional amounts are apportioned to the recipient under section 5336 if
(A) the recipient applies for the payment;
(B) the Secretary approves the payment; and
(C) before carrying out that part, the Secretary approves the plans and specifications for the part in the same way as for other projects under this section.
(2) The Secretary may approve an application under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if an authorization for this section is in effect for the fiscal year to which the application applies. The Secretary may not approve an application if the payment will be more than
(A) the recipients expected apportionment under section 5336 of this title if the total amount authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year to carry out this section is appropriated; less
(B) the maximum amount of the apportionment that may be made available for projects for operating expenses under this section.
(3) The cost of carrying out that part of a project includes the amount of interest earned and payable on bonds issued by the recipient to the extent proceeds of the bonds are expended in carrying out the part. However, the amount of interest allowed under this paragraph may not be more than the most favorable financing terms reasonably available for the project at the time of borrowing. The applicant shall certify, in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary, that the applicant has shown reasonable diligence in seeking the most favorable financing terms.
(h) Reviews, Audits, and Evaluations.— 

(1) 
(A) At least annually, the Secretary shall carry out, or require a recipient to have carried out independently, reviews and audits the Secretary considers appropriate to establish whether the recipient has carried out
(i) the activities proposed under subsection (d) of this section in a timely and effective way and can continue to do so; and
(ii) those activities and its certifications and has used amounts of the Government in the way required by law.
(B) An audit of the use of amounts of the Government shall comply with the auditing procedures of the Comptroller General.
(2) At least once every 3 years, the Secretary shall review and evaluate completely the performance of a recipient in carrying out the recipients program, specifically referring to compliance with statutory and administrative requirements and the extent to which actual program activities are consistent with the activities proposed under subsection (d) of this section and the planning process required under sections 5303–5306 of this title. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate such reviews with any related State or local reviews.
(3) The Secretary may take appropriate action consistent with a review, audit, and evaluation under this subsection, including making an appropriate adjustment in the amount of a grant or withdrawing the grant.
(i) Procurement System Approval.— 
A recipient may request the Secretary to approve its procurement system. The Secretary shall approve the system for use for procurements financed under section 5336 of this title if, after consulting with the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, the Secretary decides the system provides for competitive procurement. Approval of a system under this subsection does not relieve a recipient of the duty to certify under subsection (d)(1)(E) of this section.
(j) Operating Ferries Outside Urbanized Areas.— 
A vessel used in ferryboat operations financed under section 5336 of this title that is part of a State-operated ferry system may be operated occasionally outside the urbanized area in which service is provided to accommodate periodic maintenance if existing ferry service is not reduced significantly by operating outside the area.
(k) Relationship to Other Laws.— 

(1) Applicable provisions.— 
Sections 5301, 5302, 5303, 5304, 5306, 5315 (c), 5318, 5319, 5323, 5325, 5327, 5329, 5330, 5331, 5332, 5333, and 5335 apply to this section and to any grant made under this section.
(2) Inapplicable provisions.— 

(A) In general.— 
Except as provided by this section, no other provision of this chapter applies to this section or to a grant made under this section.
(B) Title 5.— 
The provision of assistance under this chapter shall not be construed as bringing within the application of chapter 15 of title 5 any nonsupervisory employee of a public transportation system (or any other agency or entity performing related functions) to which such chapter is otherwise inapplicable.
(l) Treatment.— 
For the purposes of this section, the United States Virgin Islands shall be treated as an urbanized area, as defined in section 5302.
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5308 - Clean fuels grant program

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Clean fuel bus.— 
The term clean fuel bus means a passenger vehicle used to provide public transportation that
(A) is powered by
(i) compressed natural gas;
(ii) liquefied natural gas;
(iii) biodiesel fuels;
(iv) batteries;
(v) alcohol-based fuels;
(vi) hybrid electric;
(vii) fuel cell;
(viii) clean diesel, to the extent allowed under this section; or
(ix) other low or zero emissions technology; and
(B) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has certified sufficiently reduces harmful emissions.
(2) Eligible project.— 
The term eligible project
(A) means a project in a nonattainment or maintenance area described in paragraph (4)(A) for
(i) purchasing or leasing clean fuel buses, including buses that employ a lightweight composite primary structure;
(ii) constructing or leasing clean fuel buses or electrical recharging facilities and related equipment for such buses; or
(iii) constructing new or improving existing public transportation facilities to accommodate clean fuel buses; and
(B) at the discretion of the Secretary, may include a project located in a nonattainment or maintenance area described in paragraph (4)(A) relating to clean fuel, biodiesel, hybrid electric, or zero emissions technology buses that exhibit equivalent or superior emissions reductions to existing clean fuel or hybrid electric technologies.
(3) Maintenance area.— 
The term maintenance area has the meaning such term has under section 101 of title 23.
(4) Recipient.— 

(A) In general.— 
The term recipient means a designated recipient (as defined in section 5307 (a)(2)) for an area that, and a recipient for an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 that
(i) is designated as a nonattainment area for ozone or carbon monoxide under section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7407 (d)); or
(ii) is a maintenance area for ozone or carbon monoxide.
(B) Smaller urbanized areas.— 
In the case of an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, the State in which the area is located shall act as the recipient for the area under this section.
(b) Authority.— 
The Secretary shall make grants in accordance with this section to recipients to finance eligible projects.
(c) Clean Diesel Buses.— 
Not more than 25 percent of the amount made available by or appropriated under section 5338 in each fiscal year to carry out this section may be made available to fund clean diesel buses.
(d) Grant Requirements.— 

(1) In general.— 
A grant under this section shall be subject to the requirements of section 5307.
(2) Government’s share of costs for certain projects.— 
Section 5323 (i) applies to projects carried out under this section.
(e) Availability of Funds.— 
Any amount made available or appropriated under this section
(1) shall remain available to a project for 2 years after the fiscal year for which the amount is made available or appropriated; and
(2) that remains unobligated at the end of the period described in paragraph (1) shall be added to the amount made available in the following fiscal year.

49 USC 5309 - Capital investment grants

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Alternatives analysis.— 
The term alternatives analysis means a study conducted as part of the transportation planning process required under sections 5303 and 5304, which includes
(A) an assessment of a wide range of public transportation alternatives designed to address a transportation problem in a corridor or subarea;
(B) sufficient information to enable the Secretary to make the findings of project justification and local financial commitment required under this section;
(C) the selection of a locally preferred alternative; and
(D) the adoption of the locally preferred alternative as part of the long-range transportation plan required under section 5303.
(2) Major new fixed guideway capital project.— 
The term major new fixed guideway capital project means a new fixed guideway capital project for which the Federal assistance provided or to be provided under this section is $75,000,000 or more.
(3) New fixed guideway capital project.— 
The term new fixed guideway capital project means a minimum operable segment of a capital project for a new fixed guideway system or extension to an existing fixed guideway system.
(b) General Authority.— 
The Secretary may make grants under this section to assist State and local governmental authorities in financing
(1) new fixed guideway capital projects under subsections (d) and (e), including the acquisition of real property, the initial acquisition of rolling stock for the systems, the acquisition of rights-of-way, and relocation, for fixed guideway corridor development for projects in the advanced stages of alternatives analysis or preliminary engineering;
(2) capital projects to modernize existing fixed guideway systems;
(3) capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including programs of bus and bus-related projects for assistance to subrecipients that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private nonprofit">nonprofit organizations; and
(4) the development of corridors to support new fixed guideway capital projects under subsections (d) and (e), including protecting rights-of-way through acquisition, construction of dedicated bus and high occupancy vehicle lanes and park and ride lots, and other nonvehicular capital improvements that the Secretary may decide would result in increased public transportation usage in the corridor.
(c) Grant Requirements.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary may not approve a grant for a project under this section unless the Secretary determines that
(A) the project is part of an approved transportation plan and program of projects required under sections 5303, 5304, and 5306; and
(B) the applicant has, or will have
(i) the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project, including safety and security aspects of the project;
(ii) satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities; and
(iii) the capability and willingness to maintain the equipment or facilities.
(2) Certification.— 
An applicant that has submitted the certifications required under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (H) of section 5307 (d)(1) shall be deemed to have provided sufficient information upon which the Secretary may make the determinations required under this subsection.
(3) Grantee requirements.— 
The Secretary shall require that any grant awarded under this section to a recipient be subject to all terms, conditions, requirements, and provisions that the Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this section, including requirements for the disposition of net increases in the value of real property resulting from the project assisted under this section.
(d) Major Capital Investment Grants of $75,000,000 or More.
(1) Full funding grant agreement.— 

(A) In general.— 
A major new fixed guideway capital project shall be carried out through a full funding grant agreement.
(B) Criteria.— 
The Secretary shall enter into a full funding grant agreement, based on the evaluations and ratings required under this subsection, with each grantee receiving assistance for a major new fixed guideway capital project that
(i) is authorized for final design and construction; and
(ii) has been rated as medium, medium-high, or high, in accordance with paragraph (5)(B).
(2) Approval of grants.— 
The Secretary may approve a grant under this section for a major new fixed guideway capital project only if the Secretary, based upon evaluations and considerations set forth in paragraph (3), determines that the project is
(A) based on the results of an alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering;
(B) justified based on a comprehensive review of its mobility improvements, environmental benefits, cost effectiveness, operating efficiencies, economic development effects, and public transportation supportive land use policies and future patterns; and
(C) supported by an acceptable degree of local financial commitment (including evidence of stable and dependable financing sources) to construct, maintain, and operate the system or extension, and maintain and operate the entire public transportation system without requiring a reduction in existing public transportation services or level of service to operate the proposed project.
(3) Evaluation of project justification.— 
In making the determinations under paragraph (2)(B) for a major capital investment grant, the Secretary shall analyze, evaluate, and consider
(A) the results of the alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering for the proposed project;
(B) the reliability of the forecasting methods used to estimate costs and utilization made by the recipient and the contractors to the recipient;
(C) the direct and indirect costs of relevant alternatives;
(D) factors such as
(i) congestion relief;
(ii) improved mobility;
(iii) air pollution;
(iv) noise pollution;
(v) energy consumption; and
(vi) all associated ancillary and mitigation costs necessary to carry out each alternative analyzed;
(E) reductions in local infrastructure costs and other benefits achieved through compact land use development, such as positive impacts on the capacity, utilization, or longevity of other surface transportation assets and facilities;
(F) the cost of suburban sprawl;
(G) the degree to which the project increases the mobility of the public transportation dependent population or promotes economic development;
(H) population density and current transit ridership in the transportation corridor;
(I) the technical capability of the grant recipient to construct the project;
(J) any adjustment to the project justification necessary to reflect differences in local land, construction, and operating costs; and
(K) other factors that the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this subsection.
(4) Evaluation of local financial commitment.— 

(A) In general.— 
In evaluating a project under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall require that
(i) the proposed project plan provides for the availability of contingency amounts that the Secretary determines to be reasonable to cover unanticipated cost increases;
(ii) each proposed local source of capital and operating financing is stable, reliable, and available within the proposed project timetable; and
(iii) local resources are available to recapitalize and operate the overall proposed public transportation system, including essential feeder bus and other services necessary to achieve the projected ridership levels without requiring a reduction in existing public transportation services or level of service to operate the proposed project.
(B) Evaluation criteria.— 
In assessing the stability, reliability, and availability of proposed sources of local financing under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall consider
(i) the reliability of the forecasting methods used to estimate costs and utilization made by the recipient and the contractors to the recipient;
(ii) existing grant commitments;
(iii) the degree to which financing sources are dedicated to the proposed purposes;
(iv) any debt obligation that exists, or is proposed by the recipient, for the proposed project or other public transportation purpose; and
(v) the extent to which the project has a local financial commitment that exceeds the required non-Federal share of the cost of the project.
(C) Consideration of fiscal capacity of state and local governments.— 
If the Secretary gives priority to financing projects under this subsection that include more than the non-Federal share required under subsection (h), the Secretary shall give equal consideration to differences in the fiscal capacity of State and local governments.
(5) Project advancement and ratings.— 

(A) Project advancement.— 
A proposed project under this subsection shall not advance from alternatives analysis to preliminary engineering or from preliminary engineering to final design and construction unless the Secretary determines that the project meets the requirements of this section and there is a reasonable likelihood that the project will continue to meet such requirements.
(B) Ratings.— 
In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall evaluate and rate the project on a 5-point scale (high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, or low) based on the results of the alternatives analysis, the project justification criteria, and the degree of local financial commitment, as required under this subsection. In rating the projects, the Secretary shall provide, in addition to the overall project rating, individual ratings for each of the criteria established by regulation.
(6) Policy guidance.— 

(A) Publication.— 
The Secretary shall publish policy guidance regarding the new fixed guideway capital project review and evaluation process and criteria
(i) not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005; and
(ii) each time significant changes are made by the Secretary to the process and criteria, but not less frequently than once every 2 years.
(B) Public comment and response.— 
The Secretary shall
(i) invite public comment to the policy guidance published under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) publish a response to the comments received under clause (i).
(e) Capital Investment Grants Less Than $75,000,000.
(1) In general.— 

(A) Applicability of requirements.— 
Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a new fixed guideway capital project shall be subject to the requirements of this subsection if the Federal assistance provided or to be provided under this section for the project is less than $75,000,000 and the total estimated net capital cost of the project is less than $250,000,000.
(B) Projects receiving less than $25,000,000 in federal assistance.If the assistance provided under this section with respect to a new fixed guideway capital project is less than $25,000,000, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply to the project until such date as the final regulation to be issued under paragraph (9) takes effect.
(2) Selection criteria.— 
The Secretary may provide Federal assistance under this subsection with respect to a proposed project only if the Secretary finds that the project is
(A) based on the results of planning and alternatives analysis;
(B) justified based on a review of its public transportation supportive land use policies, cost effectiveness, and effect on local economic development; and
(C) supported by an acceptable degree of local financial commitment.
(3) Planning and alternatives.— 
In evaluating a project under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary shall analyze and consider the results of planning and alternatives analysis for the project.
(4) Project justification.— 
For purposes of making the finding under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall
(A) determine the degree to which the project is consistent with local land use policies and is likely to achieve local developmental goals;
(B) determine the cost effectiveness of the project at the time of the initiation of revenue service;
(C) determine the degree to which the project will have a positive effect on local economic development;
(D) consider the reliability of the forecasting methods used to estimate costs and ridership associated with the project; and
(E) consider other factors that the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this subsection.
(5) Local financial commitment.— 

(A) In general.— 
For purposes of paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall require that each proposed local source of capital and operating financing is stable, reliable, and available within the proposed project timetable.
(B) Consideration of fiscal capacity of state and local governments.— 
If the Secretary gives priority to financing projects under this subsection that include more than the non-Federal share required under subsection (h), the Secretary shall give equal consideration to differences in the fiscal capacity of State and local governments.
(6) Advancement of project to development and construction.— 

(A) General rule.— 
A proposed project under this subsection may advance from planning and alternatives analysis to project development and construction only if the Secretary finds that the project meets the requirements of this subsection and there is a reasonable likelihood that the project will continue to meet such requirements.
(B) Evaluation.— 
In making the findings under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall evaluate and rate the project as high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, or low based on the results of the analysis of the project justification criteria and the degree of local financial commitment, as required by this subsection.
(7) Contents of project construction grant agreement.— 
A project construction grant agreement under this subsection shall specify the scope of the project to be constructed, the estimated net project cost of the project, the schedule under which the project shall be constructed, the maximum amount of funding to be obtained under this subsection, the proposed schedule for obligation of future Federal grants, and the sources of funding from other than the Government. The agreement may include a commitment on the part of the Secretary to provide funding for the project in future fiscal years.
(8) Limitation on entry into construction grant agreement.— 
The Secretary may enter into a project construction grant agreement for a project under this subsection only if the project is authorized for construction and has been rated as high, medium-high, or medium under this subsection.
(9) Regulations.— 
Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Secretary shall issue regulations establishing an evaluation and rating process for proposed projects under this subsection that is based on the results of project justification and local financial commitment, as required under this subsection.
(10) Fixed guideway capital project.— 
In this subsection, the term fixed guideway capital project includes a corridor-based bus capital project if
(A) a substantial portion of the project operates in a separate right-of-way dedicated for public transit use during peak hour operations; or
(B) the project represents a substantial investment in a defined corridor as demonstrated by features such as park-and-ride lots, transit stations, bus arrival and departure signage, intelligent transportation systems technology, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, advanced bus technology, and other features that support the long-term corridor investment.
(11) Impact report.— 

(A) In general.— 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Federal Transit Administration shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the methodology to be used in evaluating the land use and economic development impacts of non-fixed guideway or partial fixed guideway projects.
(B) Contents.— 
The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall address any qualitative and quantitative differences between fixed guideway and non-fixed guideway projects with respect to land use and economic development impacts.
(f) Previously Issued Letter of Intent or Full Funding Grant Agreement.— 
Subsections (d) and (e) do not apply to projects for which the Secretary has issued a letter of intent or entered into a full funding grant agreement before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005. Subsection (e) also does not apply to projects for which the Secretary has received an application for final design before such date of enactment.
(g) Letters of Intent, Full Funding Grant Agreements, and Early Systems Work Agreements.— 

(1) Letters of intent.— 

(A) Amounts intended to be obligated.— 
The Secretary may issue a letter of intent to an applicant announcing an intention to obligate, for a capital project under this section, an amount from future available budget authority specified in law that is not more than the amount stipulated as the financial participation of the Secretary in the project. When a letter is issued for fixed guideway projects, the amount shall be sufficient to complete at least an operable segment.
(B) Treatment.— 
The issuance of a letter under subparagraph (A) is deemed not to be an obligation under sections 1108 (c), 1108 (d), 1501, and 1502 (a) of title 31 or an administrative commitment.
(2) Full funding grant agreements.— 

(A) Terms.— 
The Secretary may make a full funding grant agreement with an applicant. The agreement shall
(i) establish the terms of participation by the Government in a project under this section;
(ii) establish the maximum amount of Government financial assistance for the project;
(iii) cover the period of time for completing the project, including a period extending beyond the period of an authorization; and
(iv) make timely and efficient management of the project easier according to the law of the United States.
(B) Special financial rules.— 

(i) In general.— 
A full funding grant agreement under this paragraph obligates an amount of available budget authority specified in law and may include a commitment, contingent on amounts to be specified in law in advance for commitments under this paragraph, to obligate an additional amount from future available budget authority specified in law.
(ii) Statement of contingent commitment.— 
The agreement shall state that the contingent commitment is not an obligation of the Government.
(iii) Interest and other financing costs.— 
Interest and other financing costs of efficiently carrying out a part of the project within a reasonable time are a cost of carrying out the project under a full funding grant agreement, except that eligible costs may not be more than the cost of the most favorable financing terms reasonably available for the project at the time of borrowing. The applicant shall certify, in a way satisfactory to the Secretary, that the applicant has shown reasonable diligence in seeking the most favorable financing terms.
(iv) Completion of operable segment.— 
The amount stipulated in an agreement under this paragraph for a fixed guideway project shall be sufficient to complete at least an operable segment.
(C) Before and after study.— 

(i) In general.— 
A full funding grant agreement under this paragraph shall require the applicant to conduct a study that
(I) describes and analyzes the impacts of the new fixed guideway capital project on transit services and transit ridership;
(II) evaluates the consistency of predicted and actual project characteristics and performance; and
(III) identifies sources of differences between predicted and actual outcomes.
(ii) Information collection and analysis plan.— 

(I) Submission of plan.— 
Applicants seeking an agreement under this paragraph shall submit a complete plan for the collection and analysis of information to identify the impacts of the new fixed guideway capital project and the accuracy of the forecasts prepared during the development of the project. Preparation of this plan shall be included in the full funding grant agreement as an eligible activity.
(II) Contents of plan.— 
The plan submitted under subclause (I) shall provide for
(aa) the collection of data on the current transit system regarding transit service levels and ridership patterns, including origins and destinations, access modes, trip purposes, and rider characteristics;
(bb) documentation of the predicted scope, service levels, capital costs, operating costs, and ridership of the project;
(cc) collection of data on the transit system 2 years after the opening of the new fixed guideway capital project, including analogous information on transit service levels and ridership patterns and information on the as-built scope and capital costs of the project; and
(dd) analysis of the consistency of predicted project characteristics with the after data.
(D) Collection of data on current system.— 
To be eligible for a full funding grant agreement under this paragraph, recipients shall have collected data on the current system, according to the plan required, before the beginning of construction of the proposed new start project. Collection of this data shall be included in the full funding grant agreement as an eligible activity.
(3) Early system work agreements.— 

(A) Conditions.— 
The Secretary may make an early systems work agreement with an applicant if a record of decision under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) has been issued on the project and the Secretary finds there is reason to believe
(i) a full funding grant agreement for the project will be made; and
(ii) the terms of the work agreement will promote ultimate completion of the project more rapidly and at less cost.
(B) Contents.— 

(i) In general.— 
A work agreement under this paragraph obligates an amount of available budget authority specified in law and shall provide for reimbursement of preliminary costs of carrying out the project, including land acquisition, timely procurement of system elements for which specifications are decided, and other activities the Secretary decides are appropriate to make efficient, long-term project management easier.
(ii) Period covered.— 
A work agreement under this paragraph shall cover the period of time the Secretary considers appropriate. The period may extend beyond the period of current authorization.
(iii) Interest and other financing costs.— 
Interest and other financing costs of efficiently carrying out the work agreement within a reasonable time are a cost of carrying out the agreement, except that eligible costs may not be more than the cost of the most favorable financing terms reasonably available for the project at the time of borrowing. The applicant shall certify, in a way satisfactory to the Secretary, that the applicant has shown reasonable diligence in seeking the most favorable financing terms.
(iv) Failure to carry out project.— 
If an applicant does not carry out the project for reasons within the control of the applicant, the applicant shall repay all Government payments made under the work agreement plus reasonable interest and penalty charges the Secretary establishes in the agreement.
(4) Limitation on amounts.— 

(A) Major capital investment grants contingent commitment authority.— 
The total estimated amount of future obligations of the Government and contingent commitments to incur obligations covered by all outstanding letters of intent, full funding grant agreements, and early systems work agreements under this subsection for major new fixed guideway capital projects may be not more than the greater of the amount authorized under sections 5338 (a)(3) and 5338 (c) for such projects or an amount equivalent to the last 3 fiscal years of funding allocated under subsections (m)(1)(A) and (m)(2)(A)(ii) for such projects, less an amount the Secretary reasonably estimates is necessary for grants under this section for those of such projects that are not covered by a letter or agreement. The total amount covered by new letters and contingent commitments included in full funding grant agreements and early systems work agreements for such projects may be not more than a limitation specified in law.
(B) Other contingent commitment authority.— 
The total estimated amount of future obligations of the Government and contingent commitments to incur obligations covered by all project construction grant agreements and early system work agreements under this subsection for small capital projects described in subsection (e) may be not more than the greater of the amount allocated under subsection (m)(2)(A)(i) for such projects or an amount equivalent to the last fiscal year of funding allocated under such subsection for such projects, less an amount the Secretary reasonably estimates is necessary for grants under this section for those of such projects that are not covered by an agreement. The total amount covered by new contingent commitments included in project construction grant agreements and early systems work agreements for such projects may be not more than a limitation specified in law.
(C) Inclusion of certain commitments.— 
Future obligations of the Government and contingent commitments made against the contingent commitment authority under section 3032(g)(2) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (106 Stat. 2125)[1] for the San Francisco BART to the Airport project for fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 shall be charged against section 3032(g)(2) of that Act.
(D) Appropriation required.— 
An obligation may be made under this subsection only when amounts are appropriated for the obligation.
(5) Notification of congress.— 
At least 60 days before issuing a letter of intent or entering into a full funding grant agreement or project construction grant agreement under this section, the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate of the proposed letter or agreement. The Secretary shall include with the notification a copy of the proposed letter or agreement as well as the evaluations and ratings for the project.
(h) Government’s Share of Net Project Cost.— 

(1) In general.— 
Based on engineering studies, studies of economic feasibility, and information on the expected use of equipment or facilities, the Secretary shall estimate the net project cost. A grant for the project shall be for 80 percent of the net capital project cost, unless the grant recipient requests a lower grant percentage.
(2) Adjustment for completion under budget.— 
The Secretary may adjust the final net project cost of a new fixed guideway capital project evaluated under subsections (d) and (e) to include the cost of eligible activities not included in the originally defined project if the Secretary determines that the originally defined project has been completed at a cost that is significantly below the original estimate.
(3) Maximum government share.— 
The Secretary may provide a higher grant percentage than requested by the grant recipient if
(A) the Secretary determines that the net project cost of the project is not more than 10 percent higher than the net project cost estimated at the time the project was approved for advancement into preliminary engineering; and
(B) the ridership estimated for the project is not less than 90 percent of the ridership estimated for the project at the time the project was approved for advancement into preliminary engineering.
(4) Remainder of net project cost.— 
The remainder of net project costs shall be provided from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, or new capital.
(5) Limitation on statutory construction.— 
Nothing in this section, including paragraph (1) and subsections (d)(4)(B)(v) and (e)(5), shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to require a non-Federal financial commitment for a project that is more than 20 percent of the net capital project cost.
(6) Special rule for rolling stock costs.— 
In addition to amounts allowed pursuant to paragraph (1), a planned extension to a fixed guideway system may include the cost of rolling stock previously purchased if the applicant satisfies the Secretary that only amounts other than amounts of the Government were used and that the purchase was made for use on the extension. A refund or reduction of the remainder may be made only if a refund of a proportional amount of the grant of the Government is made at the same time.
(7) Limitation on applicability.— 
This subsection does not apply to projects for which the Secretary has entered into a full funding grant agreement before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005.
(i) Undertaking Projects in Advance.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary may pay the Governments share of the net capital project cost to a State or local governmental authority that carries out any part of a project described in this section without the aid of amounts of the Government and according to all applicable procedures and requirements if
(A) the State or local governmental authority applies for the payment;
(B) the Secretary approves the payment; and
(C) before carrying out the part of the project, the Secretary approves the plans and specifications for the part in the same way as other projects under this section.
(2) Financing costs.— 

(A) In general.— 
The cost of carrying out part of a project includes the amount of interest earned and payable on bonds issued by the State or local governmental authority to the extent proceeds of the bonds are expended in carrying out the part.
(B) Limitation on amount of interest.— 
The amount of interest under this paragraph may not be more than the most favorable interest terms reasonably available for the project at the time of borrowing.
(C) Certification.— 
The applicant shall certify, in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary, that the applicant has shown reasonable diligence in seeking the most favorable financial terms.
(j) Availability of Amounts.— 

(1) In general.— 
An amount made available or appropriated under section 5338 (a)(3)(C)(iii), 5338 (a)(3)(C)(iv), 5338 (b)(2)(E), or 5338 (c) for replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment and construction of bus-related facilities or for new fixed guideway capital projects shall remain available for 3 fiscal years, including the fiscal year in which the amount is made available or appropriated. Any of such amounts that are unobligated at the end of the 3-fiscal-year period may be used by the Secretary for any purpose under this section.
(2) Use of deobligated amounts.— 
An amount available under this section that is deobligated may be used for any purpose under this section.
(k) Reports on New Starts.— 

(1) Annual report on funding recommendations.— 
Not later than the first Monday in February of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate a report that includes
(A) a proposal of allocations of amounts to be available to finance grants for new fixed guideway capital projects among applicants for these amounts;
(B) evaluations and ratings, as required under subsections (d) and (e), for each such project that is authorized by the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005; and
(C) recommendations of such projects for funding based on the evaluations and ratings and on existing commitments and anticipated funding levels for the next 3 fiscal years based on information currently available to the Secretary.
(2) Annual gao review.— 
The Comptroller General shall
(A) conduct an annual review of
(i) the processes and procedures for evaluating, rating, and recommending new fixed guideway capital projects; and
(ii) the Secretarys implementation of such processes and procedures; and
(B) report to Congress on the results of such review by May 31 of each year.
(l) Other Reports.— 

(1) Before and after study reports.— 
Not later than the first Monday of August of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in subsection (k)(1) a report containing a summary of the results of the studies conducted under subsection (g)(2)(C).
(2) Contractor performance assessment report.— 

(A) In general.— 
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in subsection (k)(1) a report analyzing the consistency and accuracy of cost and ridership estimates made by each contractor to public transportation agencies developing new fixed guideway capital projects.
(B) Contents.— 
The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall compare the cost and ridership estimates made at the time projects are approved for entrance into preliminary engineering with
(i) estimates made at the time projects are approved for entrance into final design;
(ii) costs and ridership when the project commences revenue operation; and
(iii) costs and ridership when the project has been in operation for 2 years.
(C) Considerations.— 
In making comparisons under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall consider factors having an impact on costs and ridership not under the control of the contractor. The Secretary shall also consider the role taken by each contractor in the development of the project.
(3) Contractor performance incentive report.— 
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in subsection (k)(1) a report on the suitability of allowing contractors to public transportation agencies that undertake new fixed guideway capital projects under this section to receive performance incentive awards if a project is completed for less than the original estimated cost.
(m) Allocating Amounts.— 

(1) Fiscal year 2005.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated for fiscal year 2005 under section 5338 (a)(3)
(A) $1,437,829,600 shall be allocated for new fixed capital projects under subsection (d);
(B) $1,204,684,800 shall be allocated for capital projects for fixed guideway modernization; and
(C) $669,600,000 shall be allocated for capital projects for buses and bus-related equipment and facilities.
(2) Fiscal years 2006 through 2009.— 
The amounts made available or appropriated for fiscal years 2006 through 2009 under sections 5338 (b) and 5338 (c) shall be allocated as follows:
(A) Major capital investment grants.— 
Of the amounts appropriated under section 5338 (c)
(i) $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009 shall be allocated for projects for new fixed guideway capital projects of less than $75,000,000 in accordance with subsection (e); and
(ii) the remainder shall be allocated for major new fixed guideway capital projects in accordance with subsection (d).
(B) Fixed guideway modernization.— 
The amounts made available under section 5338 (b)(2)(D) shall be allocated for capital projects for fixed guideway modernization.
(C) Buses and bus-related equipment and facilities.— 
The amounts made available under section 5338 (b)(2)(E) shall be allocated for capital projects for buses and bus-related equipment and facilities.
(3) Fixed guideway modernization.— 
The amounts made available for fixed guideway modernization under section 5338 (b)(2)(D) for fiscal year 2006 and each fiscal year thereafter shall be allocated in accordance with section 5337.
(4) Preliminary engineering and alternatives analysis.— 
Not more that 8 percent of the allocation described in paragraph (1)(A) may be expended on alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering.
(5) Preliminary engineering.— 
Not more than 8 percent of the allocation described in paragraph (2)(A) may be expended on preliminary engineering.
(6) Funding for ferry boats.— 
Of the amounts described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A)
(A) $10,400,000 shall be available in fiscal year 2005 for capital projects in Alaska and Hawaii for new fixed guideway systems and extension projects utilizing ferry boats, ferry boat terminals, or approaches to ferry boat terminals;
(B) $15,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for capital projects in Alaska and Hawaii for new fixed guideway ferry systems and extension projects utilizing ferry boats, ferry boat terminals, or approaches to ferry boat terminals; and
(C) $5,000,000 shall be available for each of fiscal years 2006 though 2009 for payments to the Denali Commission under the terms of section 307(e) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note ) for docks, waterfront development projects, and related transportation infrastructure.
(7) Bus and bus facility grants.— 
The amounts made available under paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(C) shall be allocated as follows:
(A) Ferry boat systems.— 
$10,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for ferry boats or ferry terminal facilities. Of such funds, the following amounts shall be set aside for each fiscal year:
(i) $2,500,000 for the San Francisco Water Transit Authority.
(ii) $2,500,000 for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Ferry System.
(iii) $1,000,000 for the Camden, New Jersey Ferry System.
(iv) $1,000,000 for the Governors Island, New York Ferry System[2]
(v) $1,000,000 for the Philadelphia Penns Landing Ferry Terminal.
(vi) $1,000,000 for the Staten Island Ferry.
(vii) $650,000 for the Maine State Ferry Service, Rockland.
(viii) $350,000 for the Swans Island, Maine Ferry Service.
(B) Fuel cell bus program.— 
The following amounts shall be set aside for the national fuel cell bus technology development program under section 3039 of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005:[1]
(i) $11,250,000 for fiscal year 2006.
(ii) $11,500,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(iii) $12,750,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(iv) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(C) Projects not in urbanized areas.— 
Not less than 5.5 percent shall be available in each fiscal year for projects that are not in urbanized areas.
(D) Intermodal terminals.— 
Not less than $35,000,000 shall be available in each fiscal year for intermodal terminal projects, including the intercity bus portion of such projects.
(E) Bus testing.— 
$3,000,000 shall be available in each fiscal year for bus testing under section 5318.
(8) Bus and bus facility grant considerations.— 
In making grants under paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(C), the Secretary shall consider the age and condition of buses, bus fleets, related equipment, and bus-related facilities.
[1] See References in text note below.
[2] So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.

49 USC 5310 - Formula grants for special needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities

(a) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants.— 
The Secretary may make grants to States and local governmental authorities under this section for public transportation capital projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
(2) Subrecipients.— 
A State that receives a grant under this section may allocate the amounts provided under the grant to
(A) a private nonprofit">nonprofit organization, if the public transportation service provided under paragraph (1) is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate; or
(B) a governmental authority that
(i) is approved by the State to coordinate services for elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities; or
(ii) certifies that there are not any nonprofit">nonprofit organizations readily available in the area to provide the services described under paragraph (1).
(3) Acquiring public transportation services.— 
A public transportation capital project under this section may include acquisition of public transportation services as an eligible capital expense.
(4) Administrative expenses.— 
A State or local governmental authority may use not more than 10 percent of the amounts apportioned to the State under this section to administer, plan, and provide technical assistance for a project funded under this section.
(b) Apportionment and Transfers.— 

(1) Formula.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available to carry out this section under a formula the Secretary administers that considers the number of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities in each State.
(2) Transfer of funds.— 
Any funds apportioned to a State under paragraph (1) may be transferred by the State to the apportionments made under sections 5311 (c) and 5336 if such funds are only used for eligible projects selected under this section.
(c) Government’s Share of Costs.— 

(1) Capital projects.— 

(A) In general.— 
A grant for a capital project under this section shall be for 80 percent of the net capital costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(B) Exception.— 
A State described in section 120 (b) of title 23 shall receive an increased Government share in accordance with the formula under that section.
(2) Remainder.— 
The remainder of the net project costs
(A) may be provided from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or a private social service organization, or new capital;
(B) may be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to a department or agency of the Government (other than the Department of Transportation) that are eligible to be expended for transportation; and
(C) notwithstanding subparagraph (B), may be derived from amounts made available to carry out the Federal lands highway program established by section 204 of title 23.
(3) Use of certain funds.— 
For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), the prohibitions on the use of funds for matching requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(vii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603 (a)(5)(C)(vii)) shall not apply to Federal or State funds to be used for transportation purposes.
(d) Grant Requirements.— 

(1) In general.— 
A grant under this section shall be subject to all requirements of a grant under section 5307 to the extent the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2) Certification requirements.— 

(A) Fund transfers.— 
A grant recipient under this section that transfers funds to a project funded under section 5336 in accordance with subsection (b)(2) shall certify that the project for which the funds are requested has been coordinated with private nonprofit">nonprofit providers of services under this section.
(B) Project selection and plan development.— 
Beginning in fiscal year 2007, each grant recipient under this section shall certify that
(i) the projects selected were derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan; and
(ii) the plan was developed through a process that included representatives of public, private, and nonprofit">nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public.
(C) Allocations to subrecipients.— 
Each grant recipient under this section shall certify that allocations of the grant to subrecipients, if any, are distributed on a fair and equitable basis.
(e) State Program of Projects.— 

(1) In general.— 
Amounts made available to carry out this section may be used for transportation projects to assist in providing transportation services for elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities that are included in a State program of projects.
(2) Submission and approval.— 
A State shall submit to the Secretary annually for approval a program of projects. The program shall contain an assurance that the program provides for maximum feasible coordination of transportation services assisted under this section with transportation services assisted by other Government sources.
(f) Leasing Vehicles.— 
Vehicles acquired under this section may be leased to local governmental authorities to improve transportation services designed to meet the special needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
(g) Meal Delivery for Homebound Individuals.— 
Public transportation service providers receiving assistance under this section or section 5311 (c) may coordinate and assist in regularly providing meal delivery service for homebound individuals if the delivery service does not conflict with providing public transportation service or reduce service to public transportation passengers.
(h) Transfers of Facilities and Equipment.— 
With the consent of the recipient in possession of a facility or equipment acquired with a grant under this section, a State may transfer the facility or equipment to any recipient eligible to receive assistance under this chapter if the facility or equipment will continue to be used as required under this section.

49 USC 5311 - Formula grants for other than urbanized areas

(a) Definitions.— 
As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Recipient.— 
The term recipient means a State or Indian tribe that receives a Federal transit program grant directly from the Federal Government.
(2) Subrecipient.— 
The term subrecipient means a State or local governmental authority, a nonprofit">nonprofit organization, or an operator of public transportation or intercity bus service that receives Federal transit program grant funds indirectly through a recipient.
(b) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants authorized.— 
Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary may award grants under this section to recipients located in areas other than urbanized areas for
(A) public transportation capital projects;
(B) operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation; and
(C) the acquisition of public transportation services, including service agreements with private providers of public transportation services.
(2) State program.— 

(A) In general.— 
A project eligible for a grant under this section shall be included in a State program for public transportation service projects, including agreements with private providers of public transportation service.
(B) Submission to secretary.— 
Each State shall submit to the Secretary annually the program described in subparagraph (A).
(C) Approval.— 
The Secretary may not approve the program unless the Secretary determines that
(i) the program provides a fair distribution of amounts in the State, including Indian reservations; and
(ii) the program provides the maximum feasible coordination of public transportation service assisted under this section with transportation service assisted by other Federal sources.
(3) Rural transportation assistance program.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall carry out a rural transportation assistance program in other than urbanized areas.
(B) Grants and contracts.— 
In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary may use not more than 2 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section to make grants and contracts for transportation research, technical assistance, training, and related support services in other than urbanized areas.
(C) Projects of a national scope.— 
Not more than 15 percent of the amounts available under subparagraph (B) may be used by the Secretary to carry out projects of a national scope, with the remaining balance provided to the States.
(4) Data collection.— 
Each recipient under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary containing information on capital investment, operations, and service provided with funds received under this section, including
(A) total annual revenue;
(B) sources of revenue;
(C) total annual operating costs;
(D) total annual capital costs;
(E) fleet size and type, and related facilities;
(F) revenue vehicle miles; and
(G) ridership.
(c) Apportionments.— 

(1) Public transportation on indian reservations.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsections (a)(1)(C)(v) and (b)(2)(G) of section 5338, the following amounts shall be apportioned for grants to Indian tribes for any purpose eligible under this section, under such terms and conditions as may be established by the Secretary:
(A) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
(B) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(D) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(2) Remaining amounts.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsections (a)(1)(C)(v) and (b)(2)(G) of section 5338 that are not apportioned under paragraph (1)
(A) 20 percent shall be apportioned to the States in accordance with paragraph (3); and
(B) 80 percent shall be apportioned to the States in accordance with paragraph (4).
(3) Apportionments based on land area in nonurbanized areas.— 

(A) In general.— 
Subject to subparagraph (B), each State shall receive an amount that is equal to the amount apportioned under paragraph (2)(A) multiplied by the ratio of the land area in areas other than urbanized areas in that State and divided by the land area in all areas other than urbanized areas in the United States, as shown by the most recent decennial census of population.
(B) Maximum apportionment.— 
No State shall receive more than 5 percent of the amount apportioned under this paragraph.
(4) Apportionments based on population in nonurbanized areas.— 
Each State shall receive an amount equal to the amount apportioned under paragraph (2)(B) multiplied by the ratio of the population of areas other than urbanized areas in that State divided by the population of all areas other than urbanized areas in the United States, as shown by the most recent decennial census of population.
(d) Use for Local Transportation Service.— 
A State may use an amount apportioned under this section for a project included in a program under subsection (b) of this section and eligible for assistance under this chapter if the project will provide local transportation service, as defined by the Secretary of Transportation, in an area other than an urbanized area.
(e) Use for Administration, Planning, and Technical Assistance.— 
The Secretary of Transportation may allow a State to use not more than 15 percent of the amount apportioned under this section to administer this section and provide technical assistance to a subrecipient, including project planning, program and management development, coordination of public transportation programs, and research the State considers appropriate to promote effective delivery of public transportation to an area other than an urbanized area.
(f) Intercity Bus Transportation.— 

(1) In general.— 
A State shall expend at least 15 percent of the amount made available in each fiscal year to carry out a program to develop and support intercity bus transportation. Eligible activities under the program include
(A) planning and marketing for intercity bus transportation;
(B) capital grants for intercity bus shelters;
(C) joint-use stops and depots;
(D) operating grants through purchase-of-service agreements, user-side subsidies, and demonstration projects; and
(E) coordinating rural connections between small public transportation operations and intercity bus carriers.
(2) Certification.— 
A State does not have to comply with paragraph (1) of this subsection in a fiscal year in which the chief executive officer of the State certifies to the Secretary, after consultation with affected intercity bus service providers, that the intercity bus service needs of the State are being met adequately.
(g) Government Share of Costs.— 

(1) Capital projects.— 

(A) In general.— 
Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a grant awarded under this section for any purpose other than operating assistance shall be for 80 percent of the net capital costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(B) Exception.— 
A State described in section 120 (b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of the net capital costs in accordance with the formula under that section.
(2) Operating assistance.— 

(A) In general.— 
Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a grant made under this section for operating assistance may not exceed 50 percent of the net operating costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(B) Exception.— 
A State described in section 120 (b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of the net operating costs equal to 62.5 percent of the Government share provided for under paragraph (1)(B).
(3) Remainder.— 
The remainder of net project costs
(A) may be provided from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or a private social service organization, or new capital;
(B) may be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to a department or agency of the Government (other than the Department of Transportation) that are eligible to be expended for transportation; and
(C) notwithstanding subparagraph (B), may be derived from amounts made available to carry out the Federal lands highway program established by section 204 of title 23.
(4) Use of certain funds.— 
For purposes of paragraph (3)(B), the prohibitions on the use of funds for matching requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(vii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603 (a)(5)(C)(vii)) shall not apply to Federal or State funds to be used for transportation purposes.
(5) Limitation on operating assistance.— 
A State carrying out a program of operating assistance under this section may not limit the level or extent of use of the Government grant for the payment of operating expenses.
(h) Transfer of Facilities and Equipment.— 
With the consent of the recipient currently having a facility or equipment acquired with assistance under this section, a State may transfer the facility or equipment to any recipient eligible to receive assistance under this chapter if the facility or equipment will continue to be used as required under this section.
(i) Relationship to Other Laws.— 

(1) Sections 5323 (a)(1)(D)1 and 5333 (b) of this title apply to this section if the Secretary of Labor utilizes a special warranty that provides a fair and equitable arrangement to protect the interests of employees.
(2) This subsection does not affect or discharge a responsibility of the Secretary of Transportation under a law of the United States.
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5312 - Research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects

(a) Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment Projects.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary may make grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements (including agreements with departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government) for research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects, and evaluation of technology of national significance to public transportation, that the Secretary determines will improve public transportation service or help public transportation service meet the total transportation needs at a minimum cost.
(2) Information.— 
The Secretary may request and receive appropriate information from any source.
(3) Savings provision.— 
This subsection does not limit the authority of the Secretary under any other law.
(b) Joint Partnership Program for Deployment of Innovation.— 

(1) Definition of consortium.— 
In this subsection, the term consortium
(A) means 1 or more public or private organizations located in the United States that provide public transportation service to the public and 1 or more businesses, including small- and medium-sized businesses, incorporated in a State, offering goods or services or willing to offer goods and services to public transportation operators; and
(B) may include, as additional members, public or private research organizations located in the United States, or State or local governmental authorities.
(2) General authority.— 
The Secretary may, under terms and conditions that the Secretary prescribes, enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements with consortia selected in accordance with paragraph (4), to promote the early deployment of innovation in public transportation services, management, operational practices, or technology that has broad applicability. This paragraph shall be carried out in consultation with the transit industry by competitively selected consortia that will share costs, risks, and rewards of early deployment of innovation.
(3) Consortium contribution.— 
A consortium assisted under this subsection shall provide not less than 50 percent of the costs of any joint partnership project. Any business, organization, person, or governmental body may contribute funds to a joint partnership project.
(4) Notice requirement.— 
The Secretary shall periodically give public notice of the technical areas for which joint partnerships are solicited, required qualifications of consortia desiring to participate, the method of selection and evaluation criteria to be used in selecting participating consortia and projects, and the process by which innovation projects described in paragraph (1) will be awarded.
(5) Use of revenues.— 
The Secretary shall accept, to the maximum extent practicable, a portion of the revenues resulting from sales of an innovation project funded under this section. Such revenues shall be accounted for separately within the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and shall be available to the Secretary for activities under this subsection. Annual revenues that are less than $1,000,000 shall be available for obligation without further appropriation and shall not be subject to any obligation limitation.
(c) International Mass 1 Transportation Program.— 

(1) Activities.— 
The Secretary is authorized to engage in activities to inform the United States domestic public transportation community about technological innovations available in the international marketplace and activities that may afford domestic businesses the opportunity to become globally competitive in the export of public transportation products and services. Such activities may include
(A) development, monitoring, assessment, and dissemination domestically of information about worldwide public transportation market opportunities;
(B) cooperation with foreign public sector entities in research, development, demonstration, training, and other forms of technology transfer and exchange of experts and information;
(C) advocacy, in international public transportation markets, of firms, products, and services available from the United States;
(D) informing the international market about the technical quality of public transportation products and services through participation in seminars, expositions, and similar activities; and
(E) offering those Federal Transit Administration technical services which cannot be readily obtained from the United States private sector to foreign public authorities planning or undertaking public transportation projects if the cost of these services will be recovered under the terms of each project.
(2) Cooperation.— 
The Secretary may carry out activities under this subsection in cooperation with other Federal agencies, State or local agencies, public or private nonprofit">nonprofit institutions, government laboratories, foreign governments, or any other organization the Secretary determines is appropriate.
(3) Funding.— 
The funds available to carry out this subsection shall include revenues paid to the Secretary by any cooperating organization or person. Such revenues shall be available to the Secretary to carry out activities under this subsection, including promotional materials, travel, reception, and representation expenses necessary to carry out such activities. Annual revenues that are less than $1,000,000 shall be available for obligation without further appropriation and shall not be subject to any obligation limitation. Not later than January 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish a report on the activities under this paragraph funded from the account.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “Public”.

49 USC 5313 - Transit cooperative research program

(a) Cooperative Research Program.— 
The amounts made available under subsections (a)(5)(C)(iii) and (d)(1) of section 5338 are available for a public transportation cooperative research program. The Secretary of Transportation shall establish an independent governing board for the program. The board shall recommend public transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities the Secretary considers appropriate.
(b) Federal Assistance.— 
The Secretary may make grants to, and cooperative agreements with, the National Academy of Sciences to carry out activities under this subsection that the Secretary decides are appropriate.
(c) Government’s Share.— 
If there would be a clear and direct financial benefit to an entity under a grant or contract financed under this section, the Secretary shall establish a Government share consistent with that benefit.

49 USC 5314 - National research programs

(a) Program.— 

(1) The amounts made available under section 5338 (d) are available to the Secretary of Transportation for grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other agreements for the purposes of sections 5312, 5315, and 5322 of this title, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) The Secretary shall provide public transportation-related technical assistance, demonstration programs, research, public education, and other activities the Secretary considers appropriate to help public transportation providers comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall carry out this paragraph through a contract with a national nonprofit">nonprofit organization serving individuals with disabilities that has a demonstrated capacity to carry out the activities.
(3) Not more than 25 percent of the amounts available under paragraph (1) of this subsection is available to the Secretary for special demonstration initiatives, subject to terms the Secretary considers consistent with this chapter, except that section 5323 (a)(1)(D)1 of this title applies to an operational grant financed in carrying out section 5312 (a) of this title. For a nonrenewable grant of not more than $100,000, the Secretary shall provide expedited procedures on complying with the requirements of this chapter.
(4) 
(A) The Secretary may undertake a program of public transportation technology development in coordination with affected entities.
(B) The Secretary shall develop guidelines for cost sharing in technology development projects financed under this paragraph. The guidelines shall be flexible and reflect the extent of technical risk, market risk, and anticipated supplier benefits and payback periods.
(5) The Secretary may use amounts appropriated under this subsection to supplement amounts available under section 5313 (a) of this title, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(6) Medical transportation demonstration grants.— 

(A) Grants authorized.— 
The Secretary may award demonstration grants, from funds made available under paragraph (1), to eligible entities to provide transportation services to individuals to access dialysis treatments and other medical treatments for renal disease.
(B) Eligible entities.— 
An entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph if the entity
(i) meets the conditions described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
(ii) is an agency of a State or unit of local government.
(C) Use of funds.— 
Grant funds received under this paragraph may be used to provide transportation services to individuals to access dialysis treatments and other medical treatments for renal disease.
(D) Application.— 

(i) In general.— 
Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this paragraph shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, at such place, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(ii) Selection of grantees.— 
In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities from communities with
(I) high incidence of renal disease; and
(II) limited access to dialysis facilities.
(E) Rulemaking.— 
The Secretary shall issue regulations to implement and administer the grant program established under this paragraph.
(F) Report.— 
The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the demonstration projects funded under this paragraph to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(b) Government’s Share.— 
When there would be a clear and direct financial benefit to an entity under a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement under subsection (a) or section 5312, the Secretary shall establish a United States Government share consistent with the benefit.
(c) National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation.— 

(1) Establishment.— 
The Secretary shall award grants to a national not-for-profit organization for the establishment and maintenance of a national technical assistance center.
(2) Eligibility.— 
An organization shall be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1) if the organization
(A) focuses significantly on serving the needs of the elderly;
(B) has demonstrated knowledge and expertise in senior transportation policy and planning issues;
(C) has affiliates in a majority of the States;
(D) has the capacity to convene local groups to consult on operation and development of senior transportation programs; and
(E) has established close working relationships with the Federal Transit Administration and the Administration on Aging.
(3) Use of funds.— 
The national technical assistance center established under this section shall
(A) gather best practices from throughout the Nation and provide such practices to local communities that are implementing senior transportation programs;
(B) work with teams from local communities to identify how the communities are successfully meeting the transportation needs of senior citizens and any gaps in services in order to create a plan for an integrated senior transportation program;
(C) provide resources on ways to pay for senior transportation services;
(D) create a web site to publicize and circulate information on senior transportation programs;
(E) establish a clearinghouse for print, video, and audio resources on senior mobility; and
(F) administer the demonstration grant program established under paragraph (4).
(4) Grants authorized.— 

(A) In general.— 
The national technical assistance center established under this section, in consultation with the Federal Transit Administration, shall award senior transportation demonstration grants to
(i) local transportation organizations;
(ii) State agencies;
(iii) units of local government; and
(iv) nonprofit">nonprofit organizations.
(B) Use of funds.— 
Grant funds received under this paragraph may be used to
(i) evaluate the state of transportation services for senior citizens;
(ii) recognize barriers to mobility that senior citizens encounter in their communities;
(iii) establish partnerships and promote coordination among community stakeholders, including public, not-for-profit, and for-profit providers of transportation services for senior citizens;
(iv) identify future transportation needs of senior citizens within local communities; and
(v) establish strategies to meet the unique needs of healthy and frail senior citizens.
(C) Selection of grantees.— 
The Secretary shall select grantees under this paragraph based on a fair representation of various geographical locations throughout the United States.
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5315 - National transit institute

(a) Establishment.— 
The Secretary shall award grants to Rutgers University to conduct a national transit institute.
(b) Duties.— 

(1) In general.— 
In cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration, State transportation departments, public transportation authorities, and national and international entities, the institute established under subsection (a) shall develop and conduct training and educational programs for Federal, State, and local transportation employees, United States citizens, and foreign nationals engaged or to be engaged in Government-aid public transportation work.
(2) Training and educational programs.— 
The training and educational programs developed under paragraph (1) may include courses in recent developments, techniques, and procedures related to
(A) intermodal and public transportation planning;
(B) management;
(C) environmental factors;
(D) acquisition and joint use rights-of-way;
(E) engineering and architectural design;
(F) procurement strategies for public transportation systems;
(G) turnkey approaches to delivering public transportation systems;
(H) new technologies;
(I) emission reduction technologies;
(J) ways to make public transportation accessible to individuals with disabilities;
(K) construction, construction management, insurance, and risk management;
(L) maintenance;
(M) contract administration;
(N) inspection;
(O) innovative finance;
(P) workplace safety; and
(Q) public transportation security.
(c) Providing Education and Training.— 
Education and training of Government, State, and local transportation employees under this section shall be provided
(1) by the Secretary at no cost to the States and local governments for subjects that are a Government program responsibility; or
(2) when the education and training are paid under subsection (d) of this section, by the State, with the approval of the Secretary, through grants and contracts with public and private agencies, other institutions, individuals, and the institute.
(d) Availability of Amounts.— 
Not more than .5 percent of the amounts made available for a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1991, to a State or public transportation authority in the State to carry out sections 5307 and 5309 of this title is available for expenditure by the State and public transportation authorities in the State, with the approval of the Secretary, to pay not more than 80 percent of the cost of tuition and direct educational expenses related to educating and training State and local transportation employees under this section.

49 USC 5316 - Job access and reverse commute formula grants

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Access to jobs project.— 
The term access to jobs project means a project relating to the development and maintenance of transportation services designed to transport welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs and activities related to their employment, including
(A) transportation projects to finance planning, capital, and operating costs of providing access to jobs under this chapter;
(B) promoting public transportation by low-income workers, including the use of public transportation by workers with nontraditional work schedules;
(C) promoting the use of transit vouchers for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals; and
(D) promoting the use of employer-provided transportation, including the transit pass benefit program under section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2) Eligible low-income individual.— 
The term eligible low-income individual means an individual whose family income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line (as that term is defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902 (2)), including any revision required by that section) for a family of the size involved.
(3) Recipient.— 
The term recipient means a designated recipient (as defined in section 5307 (a)(2)) and a State that receives a grant under this section directly.
(4) Reverse commute project.— 
The term reverse commute project means a public transportation project designed to transport residents of urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities, including any projects to
(A) subsidize the costs associated with adding reverse commute bus, train, carpool, van routes, or service from urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas to suburban workplaces;
(B) subsidize the purchase or lease by a nonprofit">nonprofit organization or public agency of a van or bus dedicated to shuttling employees from their residences to a suburban workplace; or
(C) otherwise facilitate the provision of public transportation services to suburban employment opportunities.
(5) Subrecipient.— 
The term subrecipient means a State or local governmental authority, nonprofit">nonprofit organization, or operator of public transportation services that receives a grant under this section indirectly through a recipient.
(6) Welfare recipient.— 
The term welfare recipient means an individual who has received assistance under a State or tribal program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act at any time during the 3-year period before the date on which the applicant applies for a grant under this section.
(b) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants.— 
The Secretary may make grants under this section to a recipient for access to jobs and reverse commute projects carried out by the recipient or a subrecipient.
(2) Administrative expenses.— 
A recipient may use not more than 10 percent of the amounts apportioned to the recipient under this section to administer, plan, and provide technical assistance for a project funded under this section.
(c) Apportionments.— 

(1) Formula.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available for a fiscal year to carry out this section as follows:
(A) 60 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among designated recipients (as defined in section 5307 (a)(2)) for urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more in the ratio that
(i) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in each such urbanized area; bears to
(ii) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in all such urbanized areas.
(B) 20 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among the States in the ratio that
(i) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 in each State; bears to
(ii) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 in all States.
(C) 20 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among the States in the ratio that
(i) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in other than urbanized areas in each State; bears to
(ii) the number of eligible low-income individuals and welfare recipients in other than urbanized areas in all States.
(2) Use of apportioned funds.— 
Except as provided in paragraph (3)
(A) funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(A) shall be used for projects serving urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more;
(B) funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(B) shall be used for projects serving urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000; and
(C) funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(C) shall be used for projects serving other than urbanized areas.
(3) Exceptions.— 
A State may use funds apportioned under paragraphs (1)(B) and (1)(C)
(A) for projects serving areas other than the area specified in paragraph (2)(B) or (2)(C), as the case may be, if the Governor of the State certifies that all of the objectives of this section are being met in the specified area; or
(B) for projects anywhere in the State if the State has established a statewide program for meeting the objectives of this section.
(d) Competitive Process for Grants to Subrecipients.— 

(1) Areawide solicitations.— 
A recipient of funds apportioned under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall conduct, in cooperation with the appropriate metropolitan planning organization, an areawide solicitation for applications for grants to the recipient and subrecipients under this section.
(2) Statewide solicitation.— 
A recipient of funds apportioned under subsection (c)(1)(B) or (c)(1)(C) shall conduct a statewide solicitation for applications for grants to the recipient and subrecipients under this section.
(3) Application.— 
Recipients and subrecipients seeking to receive a grant from funds apportioned under subsection (c) shall submit to the recipient an application in the form and in accordance with such requirements as the recipient shall establish.
(4) Grant awards.— 
The recipient shall award grants under paragraphs (1) and (2) on a competitive basis.
(e) Transfers.— 

(1) In general.— 
A State may transfer any funds apportioned to it under subsection (c)(1)(B) or (c)(1)(C), or both, to an apportionment under section 5311 (c) or 5336, or both.
(2) Limited to eligible projects.— 
Any apportionment transferred under this subsection shall be made available only for eligible job access and reverse commute projects as described in this section.
(3) Consultation.— 
A State may make a transfer of an amount under this subsection only after consulting with responsible local officials and publicly owned operators of public transportation in each area for which the amount originally was awarded under subsection (d)(4).
(f) Grant Requirements.— 

(1) In general.— 
A grant under this section shall be subject to the requirements of section 5307.
(2) Fair and equitable distribution.— 
A recipient of a grant under this section shall certify to the Secretary that allocations of the grant to subrecipients are distributed on a fair and equitable basis.
(g) Coordination.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary shall coordinate activities under this section with related activities under programs of other Federal departments and agencies.
(2) With nonprofit">nonprofit providers.— 
A State that transfers funds to an apportionment under section 5336 pursuant to subsection (e) shall certify to the Secretary that any project for which the funds are requested under this section has been coordinated with nonprofit">nonprofit providers of services.
(3) Project selection and planning.— 
A recipient of funds under this section shall certify to the Secretary that
(A) the projects selected were derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan; and
(B) the plan was developed through a process that included representatives of public, private, and nonprofit">nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public.
(h) Government’s Share of Costs.— 

(1) Capital projects.— 
A grant for a capital project under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the net capital costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Operating assistance.— 
A grant made under this section for operating assistance may not exceed 50 percent of the net operating costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Remainder.— 
The remainder of the net project costs
(A) may be provided from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or a private social service organization, or new capital; and
(B) may be derived from amounts appropriated to or made available to a department or agency of the Government (other than the Department of Transportation) that are eligible to be expended for transportation.
(4) Use of certain funds.— 
For purposes of paragraph (3)(B), the prohibitions on the use of funds for matching requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(vii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603 (a)(5)(C)(vii)) shall not apply to Federal or State funds to be used for transportation purposes.
(5) Limitation on operating assistance.— 
A recipient carrying out a program of operating assistance under this section may not limit the level or extent of use of the Government grant for the payment of operating expenses.
(i) Program Evaluation.— 

(1) Comptroller general.— 
Beginning one year after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, and every 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller General shall
(A) conduct a study to evaluate the grant program authorized by this section; and
(B) transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report describing the results of the study under subparagraph (A).
(2) Department of transportation.— 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of[1] Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Secretary shall
(A) conduct a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program authorized by this section and the effectiveness of recipients making grants to subrecipients under this section; and
(B) transmit to the committees referred to in paragraph (1)(B) a report describing the results of the study under subparagraph (A).
[1] So in original. Probably should be followed by “the”.

49 USC 5317 - New freedom program

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Recipient.— 
The term recipient means a designated recipient (as defined in section 5307 (a)(2)) and a State that receives a grant under this section directly.
(2) Subrecipient.— 
The term subrecipient means a State or local governmental authority, nonprofit">nonprofit organization, or operator of public transportation services that receives a grant under this section indirectly through a recipient.
(b) General Authority.— 

(1) Grants.— 
The Secretary may make grants under this section to a recipient for new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) that assist individuals with disabilities with transportation, including transportation to and from jobs and employment support services.
(2) Administrative expenses.— 
A recipient may use not more than 10 percent of the amounts apportioned to the recipient under this section to administer, plan, and provide technical assistance for a project funded under this section.
(c) Apportionments.— 

(1) Formula.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available to carry out this section as follows:
(A) 60 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among designated recipients (as defined in section 5307 (a)(2)) for urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more in the ratio that
(i) the number of individuals with disabilities in each such urbanized area; bears to
(ii) the number of individuals with disabilities in all such urbanized areas.
(B) 20 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among the States in the ratio that
(i) the number of individuals with disabilities in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 in each State; bears to
(ii) the number of individuals with disabilities in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 in all States.
(C) 20 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among the States in the ratio that
(i) the number of individuals with disabilities in other than urbanized areas in each State; bears to
(ii) the number of individuals with disabilities in other than urbanized areas in all States.
(2) Use of apportioned funds.— 
Funds apportioned under paragraph (1) shall be used for projects as follows:
(A) Funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(A) shall be used for projects serving urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more.
(B) Funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(B) shall be used for projects serving urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000.
(C) Funds apportioned under paragraph (1)(C) shall be used for projects serving other than urbanized areas.
(3) Transfers.— 

(A) In general.— 
A State may transfer any funds apportioned to it under paragraph (1)(B) or (1)(C), or both, to an apportionment under section 5311 (c) or 5336, or both.
(B) Limited to eligible projects.— 
Any funds transferred pursuant to this paragraph shall be made available only for eligible projects selected under this section.
(C) Consultation.— 
A State may make a transfer of an amount under this subsection only after consulting with responsible local officials and publicly owned operators of public transportation in each area for which the amount originally was awarded under subsection (d)(4).
(d) Competitive Process for Grants to Subrecipients.— 

(1) Areawide solicitations.— 
A recipient of funds apportioned under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall conduct, in cooperation with the appropriate metropolitan planning organization, an areawide solicitation for applications for grants to the recipient and subrecipients under this section.
(2) Statewide solicitation.— 
A recipient of funds apportioned under subsection (c)(1)(B) or (c)(1)(C) shall conduct a statewide solicitation for applications for grants to the recipient and subrecipients under this section.
(3) Application.— 
Recipients and subrecipients seeking to receive a grant from funds apportioned under subsection (c) shall submit to the recipient an application in the form and in accordance with such requirements as the recipient shall establish.
(4) Grant awards.— 
The recipient shall award grants under paragraphs (1) and (2) on a competitive basis.
(e) Grant Requirements.— 

(1) In general.— 
A grant under this section shall be subject to all the requirements of section 5310 to the extent the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Fair and equitable distribution.— 
A recipient of a grant under this section shall certify that allocations of the grant to subrecipients are distributed on a fair and equitable basis.
(f) Coordination.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary shall coordinate activities under this section with related activities under programs of other Federal departments and agencies.
(2) With nonprofit">nonprofit providers.— 
A recipient that transfers funds to an apportionment under section 5336 pursuant to subsection (c)(2) shall certify that the project for which the funds are requested under this section has been coordinated with nonprofit">nonprofit providers of services.
(3) Project selection and planning.— 
Beginning in fiscal year 2007, a recipient of funds under this section shall certify that
(A) the projects selected were derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan; and
(B) the plan was developed through a process that included representatives of public, private, and nonprofit">nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public.
(g) Government’s Share of Costs.— 

(1) Capital projects.— 
A grant for a capital project under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the net capital costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Operating assistance.— 
A grant made under this section for operating assistance may not exceed 50 percent of the net operating costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Remainder.— 
The remainder of the net project costs
(A) may be provided from an undistributed cash surplus, a replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve, a service agreement with a State or local social service agency or a private social service organization, or new capital; and
(B) may be derived from amounts appropriated to or made available to a department or agency of the Government (other than the Department of Transportation) that are eligible to be expended for transportation.
(4) Use of certain funds.— 
For purposes of paragraph (3)(B), the prohibitions on the use of funds for matching requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(vii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603 (a)(5)(C)(vii)) shall not apply to Federal or State funds to be used for transportation purposes.
(5) Limitation on operating assistance.— 
A recipient carrying out a program of operating assistance under this section may not limit the level or extent of use of the Government grant for the payment of operating expenses.

49 USC 5318 - Bus testing facility

(a) Facility.— 
The Secretary shall maintain one facility for testing a new bus model for maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise.
(b) Operation and Maintenance.— 
The Secretary shall enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with, or make a grant to, a qualified person or organization to operate and maintain the facility. The contract, cooperative agreement, or grant may provide for the testing of rail cars and other public transportation vehicles at the facility.
(c) Fees.— 
The person operating and maintaining the facility shall establish and collect fees for the testing of vehicles at the facility. The Secretary must approve the fees.
(d) Availability of Amounts To Pay for Testing.— 
The Secretary shall enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with, or make a grant to, the operator of the facility under which the Secretary shall pay 80 percent of the cost of testing a vehicle at the facility from amounts available to carry out this section. The entity having the vehicle tested shall pay 20 percent of the cost.
(e) Acquiring New Bus Models.— 
Amounts appropriated or made available under this chapter may be obligated or expended to acquire a new bus model only if a bus of that model has been tested at the facility maintained by the Secretary under subsection (a).

49 USC 5319 - Bicycle facilities

A project to provide access for bicycles to public transportation facilities, to provide shelters and parking facilities for bicycles in or around public transportation facilities, or to install equipment for transporting bicycles on public transportation vehicles is a capital project eligible for assistance under sections 5307, 5309, and 5311 of this title. Notwithstanding sections 5307 (e), 5309 (h), and 5311 (g) of this title, a grant of the United States Government under this chapter for a project made eligible by this section is for 90 percent of the cost of the project, except that, if the grant or any portion of the grant is made with funds required to be expended under section 5307 (k)1 and the project involves providing bicycle access to public transportation, that grant or portion of that grant shall be at a Federal share of 95 percent.
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5320 - Alternative transportation in parks and public lands

(a) In General.— 

(1) Authorization.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may award a grant or enter into a contract, cooperative agreement, interagency agreement, intra-agency agreement, or other agreement to carry out a qualified project under this section to enhance the protection of national parks and public lands and increase the enjoyment of those visiting the parks and public lands by
(i) ensuring access to all, including persons with disabilities;
(ii) improving conservation and park and public land opportunities in urban areas through partnering with State and local governments; and
(iii) improving park and public land transportation infrastructure.
(B) Consultation with other agencies.— 
To the extent that projects are proposed or funded in eligible areas that are not within the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the heads of the relevant Federal land management agencies in carrying out the responsibilities under this section.
(2) Use of funds.— 
A grant, cooperative agreement, interagency agreement, intra-agency agreement, or other agreement for a qualified project under this section shall be available to finance the leasing of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation, subject to any regulation that the Secretary may prescribe limiting the grant or agreement to leasing arrangements that are more cost-effective than purchase or construction.
(3) Alternative transportation facilities and services.— 
Projects receiving assistance under this section shall provide alternative transportation facilities and services that complement and enhance existing transportation services in national parks and public lands in a manner that is consistent with Department of Interior and other public land management policies regarding private automobile access to and in such parks and lands.
(b) Definitions.— 
In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Eligible area.— 
The term eligible area means any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public, including
(A) a unit of the National Park System;
(B) a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(C) a recreational area managed by the Bureau of Land Management;
(D) a recreation area managed by the Bureau of Reclamation; and
(E) a unit of the National Forest System.
(2) Federal land management agency.— 
The term Federal land management agency means a Federal agency that manages an eligible area.
(3) Alternative transportation.— 
The term alternative transportation means transportation by bus, rail, or any other publicly or privately owned conveyance that provides to the public general or special service on a regular basis, including sightseeing service. Such term also includes a nonmotorized transportation system (including the provision of facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, and nonmotorized watercraft).
(4) Qualified participant.— 
The term qualified participant means
(A) a Federal land management agency; or
(B) a State, tribal, or local governmental authority with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area acting with the consent of the Federal land management agency, alone or in partnership with a Federal land management agency or other governmental or nongovernmental participant.
(5) Qualified project.— 
The term qualified project means a planning or capital project in or in the vicinity of an eligible area that
(A) is an activity described in section 5302 (a)(1)(A), 5303, 5304, 5305, or 5309 (b);
(B) involves
(i) the purchase of rolling stock that incorporates clean fuel technology or the replacement of buses of a type in use on the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005 with clean fuel vehicles; or
(ii) the deployment of alternative transportation vehicles that introduce innovative technologies or methods;
(C) relates to the capital costs of coordinating the Federal land management agency public transportation systems with other public transportation systems;
(D) provides a nonmotorized transportation system (including the provision of facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, and nonmotorized watercraft);
(E) provides waterborne access within or in the vicinity of an eligible area, as appropriate to and consistent with this section; or
(F) is any other alternative transportation project that
(i) enhances the environment;
(ii) prevents or mitigates an adverse impact on a natural resource;
(iii) improves Federal land management agency resource management;
(iv) improves visitor mobility and accessibility and the visitor experience;
(v) reduces congestion and pollution (including noise pollution and visual pollution); or
(vi) conserves a natural, historical, or cultural resource (excluding rehabilitation or restoration of a non-transportation facility).
(c) Federal Agency Cooperative Arrangements.— 
The Secretary shall develop cooperative arrangements with the Secretary of the Interior that provide for
(1) technical assistance in alternative transportation;
(2) interagency and multidisciplinary teams to develop Federal land management agency alternative transportation policy, procedures, and coordination; and
(3) the development of procedures and criteria relating to the planning, selection, and funding of qualified projects and the implementation and oversight of the program of projects in accordance with this section.
(d) Limitation on Use of Available Amounts.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may use not more than 10 percent of the amount made available for a fiscal year under section 5338 (b)(2)(J) to carry out planning, research, and technical assistance under this section, including the development of technology appropriate for use in a qualified project.
(2) Additional amounts.— 
Amounts made available under this subsection are in addition to amounts otherwise available to the Secretary to carry out planning, research, and technical assistance under this chapter or any other provision of law.
(3) Maximum amount.— 
No qualified project shall receive more than 25 percent of the total amount made available to carry out this section under section 5338 (b)(2)(J) for any fiscal year.
(e) Planning Process.— 
In undertaking a qualified project under this section
(1) if the qualified participant is a Federal land management agency
(A) the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall develop transportation planning procedures that are consistent with
(i) the metropolitan planning provisions under section 5303;
(ii) the statewide planning provisions under section 5304; and
(iii) the public participation requirements under section 5307 (d); and
(B) in the case of a qualified project that is at a unit of the National Park System, the planning process shall be consistent with the general management plans of the unit of the National Park System; and
(2) if the qualified participant is a State or local governmental authority, or more than one State or local governmental authority in more than one State, the qualified participant shall
(A) comply with the metropolitan planning provisions under section 5303;
(B) comply with the statewide planning provisions under section 5304;
(C) comply with the public participation requirements under section 5307 (d); and
(D) consult with the appropriate Federal land management agency during the planning process.
(f) Cost Sharing.— 

(1) Government’s share.— 
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish the Governments share of the net project cost to be provided to a qualified participant under this section.
(2) Considerations.— 
In establishing the Governments share of the net project cost to be provided under this section, the Secretary shall consider
(A) visitation levels and the revenue derived from user fees in the eligible area in which the qualified project is carried out;
(B) the extent to which the qualified participant coordinates with a public transportation authority or private entity engaged in public transportation;
(C) private investment in the qualified project, including the provision of contract services, joint development activities, and the use of innovative financing mechanisms;
(D) the clear and direct benefit to the qualified participant; and
(E) any other matters that the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this section.
(3) Special rule.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated to any Federal land management agency may be counted toward the remainder of the net project cost.
(g) Selection of Qualified Projects.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with and in cooperation with the Secretary, shall determine the final selection and funding of an annual program of qualified projects in accordance with this section.
(2) Considerations.— 
In determining whether to include a project in the annual program of qualified projects, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider
(A) the justification for the qualified project, including the extent to which the qualified project would conserve resources, prevent or mitigate adverse impact, and enhance the environment;
(B) the location of the qualified project, to ensure that the selected qualified projects
(i) are geographically diverse nationwide; and
(ii) include qualified projects in eligible areas located in both urban areas and rural areas;
(C) the size of the qualified project, to ensure that there is a balanced distribution;
(D) the historical and cultural significance of a qualified project;
(E) safety;
(F) the extent to which the qualified project would
(i) enhance livable communities;
(ii) reduce pollution (including noise pollution, air pollution, and visual pollution);
(iii) reduce congestion; and
(iv) improve the mobility of people in the most efficient manner; and
(G) any other matters that the Secretary of the Interior considers appropriate to carry out this section, including
(i) visitation levels;
(ii) the use of innovative financing or joint development strategies; and
(iii) coordination with gateway communities.
(h) Qualified Projects Carried Out in Advance.— 

(1) In general.— 
When a qualified participant carries out any part of a qualified project without assistance under this section in accordance with all applicable procedures and requirements, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may pay the share of the net capital project cost of a qualified project if
(A) the qualified participant applies for the payment;
(B) the Secretary approves the payment; and
(C) before carrying out that part of the qualified project, the Secretary approves the plans and specifications in the same manner as plans and specifications are approved for other projects assisted under this section.
(2) Financing costs.— 

(A) In general.— 
The cost of carrying out part of a qualified project under paragraph (1) includes the amount of interest earned and payable on bonds issued by a State or local governmental authority, to the extent that proceeds of the bond are expended in carrying out that part.
(B) Limitation on amount of interest.— 
The rate of interest under this paragraph may not exceed the most favorable rate reasonably available for the qualified project at the time of borrowing.
(C) Certification.— 
The qualified participant shall certify, in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary, that the qualified participant has exercised reasonable diligence in seeking the most favorable interest rate.
(i) Relationship to Other Laws.— 

(1) Section 5307.— 
A qualified participant under this section shall be subject to the requirements of sections 5307 and 5333 (a) to the extent the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(2) Other requirements.— 
A qualified participant under this section shall be subject to any other requirements that the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this section, including requirements for the distribution of proceeds on disposition of real property and equipment resulting from a qualified project assisted under this section.
(3) Project management plan.— 
If the amount of assistance anticipated to be required for a qualified project under this section is not less than $25,000,000
(A) the qualified project shall, to the extent the Secretary considers appropriate, be carried out through a full funding grant agreement in accordance with section 5309 (g); and
(B) the qualified participant shall prepare a project management plan in accordance with section 5327 (a).
(j) Asset Management.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may transfer the interest of the Department of Transportation in, and control over, all facilities and equipment acquired under this section to a qualified participant for use and disposition in accordance with any property management regulations that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(k) Coordination of Research and Deployment of New Technologies.— 

(1) Grants and other assistance.— 
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, may undertake, or make grants, cooperative agreements, contracts (including agreements with departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government) or other agreements for research, development, and deployment of new technologies in eligible areas that will
(A) conserve resources;
(B) prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impact;
(C) improve visitor mobility, accessibility, and enjoyment; and
(D) reduce pollution (including noise pollution and visual pollution).
(2) Information.— 
The Secretary may request and receive appropriate information from any source.
(3) Funding.— 
Grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other agreements under paragraph (1) shall be awarded from amounts allocated under subsection (d)(1).
(l) Innovative Financing.— 
A qualified project receiving financial assistance under this section shall be eligible for funding through a State infrastructure bank or other innovative financing mechanism available to finance an eligible project under this chapter.
(m) Reports.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall annually submit a report on the allocation of amounts made available to assist qualified projects under this section to
(A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(C) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) Annual reports.— 
The report required under paragraph (1) shall be included in the report submitted under section 5309 (k)(1).

49 USC 5321 - Crime prevention and security

The Secretary of Transportation may make capital grants from amounts available under section 5338 of this title to public transportation systems for crime prevention and security. This chapter does not prevent the financing of a project under this section when a local governmental authority other than the grant applicant has law enforcement responsibilities.

49 USC 5322 - Human resource programs

(a) In General.— 
The Secretary of Transportation may undertake, or make grants and contracts for, programs that address human resource needs as they apply to public transportation activities. A program may include
(1) an employment training program;
(2) an outreach program to increase minority and female employment in public transportation activities;
(3) research on public transportation personnel and training needs; and
(4) training and assistance for minority business opportunities.
(b) Fellowships.— 

(1) Authority to make grants.— 
The Secretary may make grants to States, local governmental authorities, and operators of public transportation systems to provide fellowships to train personnel employed in managerial, technical, and professional positions in the public transportation field.
(2) Terms.— 

(A) Period of training.— 
A fellowship under this subsection may not be for more than 1 year of training in an institution that offers a program applicable to the public transportation industry.
(B) Selection of individuals.— 
A recipient of a grant for a fellowship under this subsection shall select an individual on the basis of demonstrated ability and for the contribution the individual reasonably can be expected to make to an efficient public transportation operation.
(C) Amount.— 
A grant for a fellowship under this subsection may not be more than the lesser of $65,000 or 75 percent of the sum of
(i) tuition and other charges to the fellowship recipient;
(ii) additional costs incurred by the training institution and billed to the grant recipient; and
(iii) the regular salary of the fellowship recipient for the period of the fellowship to the extent the salary is actually paid or reimbursed by the grant recipient.

49 USC 5323 - General provisions on assistance

(a) Interests in Property.— 

(1) In general.— 
Financial assistance provided under this chapter to a State or a local governmental authority may be used to acquire an interest in, or to buy property of, a private company engaged in public transportation, for a capital project for property acquired from a private company engaged in public transportation after July 9, 1964, or to operate a public transportation facility or equipment in competition with, or in addition to, transportation service provided by an existing public transportation company, only if
(A) the Secretary determines that such financial assistance is essential to a program of projects required under sections 5303, 5304, and 5306;
(B) the Secretary determines that the program provides for the participation of private companies engaged in public transportation to the maximum extent feasible; and
(C) just compensation under State or local law will be paid to the company for its franchise or property.
(2) Limitation.— 
A governmental authority may not use financial assistance of the United States Government to acquire land, equipment, or a facility used in public transportation from another governmental authority in the same geographic area.
(b) Notice and Public Hearing.— 

(1) In general.— 
For a capital project that will substantially affect a community, or the public transportation service of a community, an applicant shall
(A) provide an adequate opportunity for public review and comment on the project;
(B) after providing notice, hold a public hearing on the project if the project affects significant economic, social, or environmental interests;
(C) consider the economic, social, and environmental effects of the project; and
(D) find that the project is consistent with official plans for developing the community.
(2) Notice.— 
Notice of a hearing under this subsection
(A) shall include a concise description of the proposed project; and
(B) shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the geographic area the project will serve.
(3) Application requirements.— 
An application for a grant under this chapter for a capital project described in paragraph (1) shall include
(A) a certification that the applicant has complied with the requirements of this subsection; and
(B) in the environmental record for the project, evidence that the applicant has complied with the requirements of this subsection.
(c) Fares not Required.— 
This chapter does not require that elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities be charged a fare.
(d) Condition on Charter Bus Transportation Service.— 

(1) Agreements.— 
Financial assistance under this chapter may be used to buy or operate a bus only if the applicant, governmental authority, or publicly owned operator that receives the assistance agrees that, except as provided in the agreement, the governmental authority or an operator of public transportation for the governmental authority will not provide charter bus transportation service outside the urban area in which it provides regularly scheduled public transportation service. An agreement shall provide for a fair arrangement the Secretary of Transportation considers appropriate to ensure that the assistance will not enable a governmental authority or an operator for a governmental authority to foreclose a private operator from providing intercity charter bus service if the private operator can provide the service.
(2) Violations.— 

(A) Investigations.— 
On receiving a complaint about a violation of the agreement required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall investigate and decide whether a violation has occurred.
(B) Enforcement of agreements.— 
If the Secretary decides that a violation has occurred, the Secretary shall correct the violation under terms of the agreement.
(C) Additional remedies.— 
In addition to any remedy specified in the agreement, the Secretary shall bar a recipient or an operator from receiving Federal transit assistance in an amount the Secretary considers appropriate if the Secretary finds a pattern of violations of the agreement.
(e) Bond Proceeds Eligible for Local Share.— 

(1) Use as local matching funds.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a recipient of assistance under section 5307 or 5309 may use the proceeds from the issuance of revenue bonds as part of the local matching funds for a capital project.
(2) Maintenance of effort.— 
The Secretary shall approve of the use of the proceeds from the issuance of revenue bonds for the remainder of the net project cost only if the Secretary finds that the aggregate amount of financial support for public transportation in the urbanized area provided by the State and affected local governmental authorities during the next 3 fiscal years, as programmed in the State transportation improvement program under section 5304, is not less than the aggregate amount provided by the State and affected local governmental authorities in the urbanized area during the preceding 3 fiscal years.
(3) Debt service reserve.— 
The Secretary may reimburse an eligible recipient for deposits of bond proceeds in a debt service reserve that the recipient establishes pursuant to section 5302 (a)(1)(K) from amounts made available to the recipient under section 5309.
(4) Pilot program for urbanized areas.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to reimburse not to exceed 10 eligible recipients for deposits of bond proceeds in a debt service reserve that the recipient establishes pursuant to section 5302 (a)(1)(K) from amounts made available to the recipient under section 5307.
(B) Report.— 
Not later than July 31, 2008, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the status and effectiveness of the pilot program established under subparagraph (A).
(f) Schoolbus Transportation.— 

(1) Agreements.— 
Financial assistance under this chapter may be used for a capital project, or to operate public transportation equipment or a public transportation facility, only if the applicant agrees not to provide schoolbus transportation that exclusively transports students and school personnel in competition with a private schoolbus operator. This subsection does not apply
(A) to an applicant that operates a school system in the area to be served and a separate and exclusive schoolbus program for the school system;
(B) unless a private schoolbus operator can provide adequate transportation that complies with applicable safety standards at reasonable rates; and
(C) to a State or local governmental authority if it or a direct predecessor in interest from which it acquired the duty of transporting school children and personnel, and facilities to transport them, provided schoolbus transportation at any time after November 25, 1973, but before November 26, 1974.
(2) Violations.— 
If the Secretary finds that an applicant, governmental authority, or publicly owned operator has violated the agreement required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall bar a recipient or an operator from receiving Federal transit assistance in an amount the Secretary considers appropriate.
(g) Buying Buses Under Other Laws.— 
Subsections (d) and (f) of this section apply to financial assistance to buy a bus under sections 133 and 142 of title 23. However, subsection (f)(1)(C) of this section applies to sections 133 and 142 only if schoolbus transportation was provided at any time after August 12, 1972, but before August 13, 1973.
(h) Grant and Loan Prohibitions.— 
A grant or loan may not be used to
(1) pay ordinary governmental or nonproject operating expenses; or
(2) support a procurement that uses an exclusionary or discriminatory specification.
(i) Government’s Share of Costs for Certain Projects.— 

(1) Equipment for ada and clean air act compliance.— 
A grant for a project to be assisted under this chapter that involves acquiring vehicle-related equipment or facilities required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) or vehicle-related equipment or facilities (including clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities) for purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act, is for 90 percent of the net project cost of such equipment or facilities attributable to compliance with those Acts. The Secretary shall have discretion to determine, through practicable administrative procedures, the costs of such equipment or facilities attributable to compliance with those Acts.
(2) Certain state owned railroads.— 
The Government share for financial assistance under this chapter to a State-owned railroad (as defined in section 603 of the Rail Safety and Service Improvement Act of 1982 (45 U.S.C. 1202)) shall be the same as the Government share under section 120 (b) of title 23 for Federal-aid highway funds apportioned to the State in which the railroad operates.
(j) Buy America.— 

(1) The Secretary of Transportation may obligate an amount that may be appropriated to carry out this chapter for a project only if the steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States.
(2) The Secretary of Transportation may waive paragraph (1) of this subsection if the Secretary finds that
(A) applying paragraph (1) would be inconsistent with the public interest;
(B) the steel, iron, and goods produced in the United States are not produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality;
(C) when procuring rolling stock (including train control, communication, and traction power equipment) under this chapter
(i) the cost of components and subcomponents produced in the United States is more than 60 percent of the cost of all components of the rolling stock; and
(ii) final assembly of the rolling stock has occurred in the United States; or
(D) including domestic material will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.
(3) Written justification for public interest waiver.— 
When issuing a waiver based on a public interest determination under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary shall issue a detailed written justification as to why the waiver is in the public interest. The Secretary shall publish such justification in the Federal Register and provide the public with a reasonable period of time for notice and comment.
(4) In this subsection, labor costs involved in final assembly are not included in calculating the cost of components.
(5) The Secretary of Transportation may not make a waiver under paragraph (2) of this subsection for goods produced in a foreign country if the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, decides that the government of that foreign country
(A) has an agreement with the United States Government under which the Secretary has waived the requirement of this subsection; and
(B) has violated the agreement by discriminating against goods to which this subsection applies that are produced in the United States and to which the agreement applies.
(6) A person is ineligible under subpart 9.4 of chapter 1 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, to receive a contract or subcontract made with amounts authorized under the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005 if a court or department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government decides the person intentionally
(A) affixed a Made in America label, or a label with an inscription having the same meaning, to goods sold in or shipped to the United States that are used in a project to which this subsection applies but not produced in the United States; or
(B) represented that goods described in clause (A) of this paragraph were produced in the United States.
(7) The Secretary of Transportation may not impose any limitation on assistance provided under this chapter that restricts a State from imposing more stringent requirements than this subsection on the use of articles, materials, and supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in foreign countries in projects carried out with that assistance or restricts a recipient of that assistance from complying with those State-imposed requirements.
(8) Opportunity to correct inadvertent error.— 
The Secretary may allow a manufacturer or supplier of steel, iron, or manufactured goods to correct after bid opening any certification of noncompliance or failure to properly complete the certification (but not including failure to sign the certification) under this subsection if such manufacturer or supplier attests under penalty of perjury that such manufacturer or supplier submitted an incorrect certification as a result of an inadvertent or clerical error. The burden of establishing inadvertent or clerical error is on the manufacturer or supplier.
(9) Administrative review.— 
A party adversely affected by an agency action under this subsection shall have the right to seek review under section 702 of title 5.
(k) Participation of Governmental Agencies in Design and Delivery of Transportation Services.— 
To the extent feasible, governmental agencies and nonprofit">nonprofit organizations that receive assistance from Government sources (other than the Department of Transportation) for nonemergency transportation services
(1) shall participate and coordinate with recipients of assistance under this chapter in the design and delivery of transportation services; and
(2) shall be included in the planning for those services.
(l) Relationship to Other Laws.— 
Section 1001 of title 18 applies to a certificate, submission, or statement provided under this chapter. The Secretary may terminate financial assistance under this chapter and seek reimbursement directly, or by offsetting amounts, available under this chapter if the Secretary determines that a recipient of such financial assistance has made a false or fraudulent statement or related act in connection with a Federal transit program.
(m) Preaward and Postdelivery Review of Rolling Stock Purchases.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations requiring a preaward and postdelivery review of a grant under this chapter to buy rolling stock to ensure compliance with Government motor vehicle safety requirements, subsection (j) of this section, and bid specifications requirements of grant recipients under this chapter. Under this subsection, independent inspections and review are required, and a manufacturer certification is not sufficient. Rolling stock procurements of 20 vehicles or fewer made for the purpose of serving other than urbanized areas and urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or fewer shall be subject to the same requirements as established for procurements of 10 or fewer buses under the post-delivery purchasers requirements certification process under section 663.37(c) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(n) Submission of Certifications.— 
A certification required under this chapter and any additional certification or assurance required by law or regulation to be submitted to the Secretary may be consolidated into a single document to be submitted annually as part of a grant application under this chapter. The Secretary shall publish annually a list of all certifications required under this chapter with the publication required under section 5336 (e)(2).[1]
(o) Grant Requirements.— 
The grant requirements under sections 5307 and 5309 apply to any project under this chapter that receives any assistance or other financing under chapter 6 (other than section 609) of title 23.
(p) Alternative Fueling Facilities.— 
A recipient of assistance under this chapter may allow the incidental use of federally funded alternative fueling facilities and equipment by nontransit public entities and private entities if
(1) the incidental use does not interfere with the recipients public transportation operations;
(2) all costs related to the incidental use are fully recaptured by the recipient from the nontransit public entity or private entity;
(3) the recipient uses revenues received from the incidental use in excess of costs for planning, capital, and operating expenses that are incurred in providing public transportation; and
(4) private entities pay all applicable excise taxes on fuel.
[1] See References in Text note below.

49 USC 5324 - Special provisions for capital projects

(a) Relocation and Real Property Requirements.— 
The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.) shall apply to financial assistance for capital projects under this chapter.
(b) Consideration of Economic, Social, and Environmental Interests.— 

(1) Cooperation and consultation.— 
In carrying out the policy of section 5301 (e), the Secretary shall cooperate and consult with the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on each project that may have a substantial impact on the environment.
(2) Public participation in environmental reviews.— 
In performing environmental reviews, the Secretary shall review each transcript of a hearing submitted under section 5323 (b) to establish that an adequate opportunity to present views was given to all parties having a significant economic, social, or environmental interest in the project, and that the project application includes a record of
(A) the environmental impact of the proposal;
(B) adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided;
(C) alternatives to the proposal; and
(D) irreversible and irretrievable impacts on the environment.
(3) Approval of applications for assistance.— 

(A) Findings by the secretary.— 
The Secretary may approve an application for financial assistance for a capital project in accordance with this chapter only if the Secretary makes written findings, after reviewing the application and the transcript of any hearing held before a State or local governmental authority under section 5323 (b), that
(i) an adequate opportunity to present views was given to all parties having a significant economic, social, or environmental interest;
(ii) the preservation and enhancement of the environment and the interest of the community in which the project is located were considered; and
(iii) no adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the project, or no feasible and prudent alternative to the effect exists and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effect.
(B) Hearing.— 
If a hearing has not been conducted or the Secretary decides that the record of the hearing is inadequate for making the findings required by this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a hearing on an environmental issue raised by the application after giving adequate notice to interested persons.
(C) Availability of findings.— 
The Secretarys findings under subparagraph (A) shall be made a matter of public record.
(c) Railroad Corridor Preservation.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Secretary may assist an applicant to acquire railroad right-of-way before the completion of the environmental reviews for any project that may use the right-of-way if the acquisition is otherwise permitted under Federal law. The Secretary may establish restrictions on such an acquisition as the Secretary determines to be necessary and appropriate.
(2) Environmental reviews.— 
Railroad right-of-way acquired under this subsection may not be developed in anticipation of the project until all required environmental reviews for the project have been completed.

49 USC 5325 - Contract requirements

(a) Competition.— 
Recipients of assistance under this chapter shall conduct all procurement transactions in a manner that provides full and open competition as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Architectural, Engineering, and Design Contracts.— 

(1) Procedures for awarding contract.— 
A contract or requirement for program management, architectural engineering, construction management, a feasibility study, and preliminary engineering, design, architectural, engineering, surveying, mapping, or related services for a project for which Federal assistance is provided under this chapter shall be awarded in the same way as a contract for architectural and engineering services is negotiated under chapter 11 of title 40 or an equivalent qualifications-based requirement of a State.
(2) Effect of state laws.— 
Paragraph (1) does not apply to the extent a State has adopted by law, before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, an equivalent State qualifications-based requirement for contracting for architectural, engineering, and design services.
(3) Additional requirements.— 
When awarding a contract described in paragraph (1), recipients of assistance under this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) Performance of audits.— 
Any contract or subcontract awarded under this chapter shall be performed and audited in compliance with cost principles contained in part 31 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the Federal Acquisition Regulation).
(B) Indirect cost rates.— 
A recipient of funds under a contract or subcontract awarded under this chapter shall accept indirect cost rates established in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation for 1-year applicable accounting periods by a cognizant Federal or State government agency, if such rates are not currently under dispute.
(C) Application of rates.— 
After a firms indirect cost rates are accepted under subparagraph (B), the recipient of the funds shall apply such rates for the purposes of contract estimation, negotiation, administration, reporting, and contract payment, and shall not be limited by administrative or de facto ceilings.
(D) Prenotification; confidentiality of data.— 
A recipient requesting or using the cost and rate data described in subparagraph (C) shall notify any affected firm before such request or use. Such data shall be confidential and shall not be accessible or provided by the group of agencies sharing cost data under this subparagraph, except by written permission of the audited firm. If prohibited by law, such cost and rate data shall not be disclosed under any circumstances.
(c) Efficient Procurement.— 
A recipient may award a procurement contract under this chapter to other than the lowest bidder if the award furthers an objective consistent with the purposes of this chapter, including improved long-term operating efficiency and lower long-term costs.
(d) Design-Build Projects.— 

(1) Term defined.— 
In this subsection, the term design-build project
(A) means a project under which a recipient enters into a contract with a seller, firm, or consortium of firms to design and build a public transportation system, or an operable segment of such system, that meets specific performance criteria; and
(B) may include an option to finance, or operate for a period of time, the system or segment or any combination of designing, building, operating, or maintaining such system or segment.
(2) Financial assistance for capital costs.— 
Federal financial assistance under this chapter may be provided for the capital costs of a design-build project after the recipient complies with Government requirements.
(e) Multiyear Rolling Stock.— 

(1) Contracts.— 
A recipient procuring rolling stock with Government financial assistance under this chapter may make a multiyear contract to buy the rolling stock and replacement parts under which the recipient has an option to buy additional rolling stock or replacement parts for not more than 5 years after the date of the original contract.
(2) Cooperation among recipients.— 
The Secretary shall allow at least two recipients to act on a cooperative basis to procure rolling stock in compliance with this subsection and other Government procurement requirements.
(f) Acquiring Rolling Stock.— 
A recipient of financial assistance under this chapter may enter into a contract to expend that assistance to acquire rolling stock
(1) based on
(A) initial capital costs; or
(B) performance, standardization, life cycle costs, and other factors; or
(2) with a party selected through a competitive procurement process.
(g) Examination of Records.— 
Upon request, the Secretary and the Comptroller General, or any of their representatives, shall have access to and the right to examine and inspect all records, documents, and papers, including contracts, related to a project for which a grant is made under this chapter.
(h) Grant Prohibition.— 
A grant awarded under this chapter or the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005 may not be used to support a procurement that uses an exclusionary or discriminatory specification.
(i) Bus Dealer Requirements.— 
No State law requiring buses to be purchased through in-State dealers shall apply to vehicles purchased with a grant under this chapter.
(j) Awards to Responsible Contractors.— 

(1) In general.— 
Federal financial assistance under this chapter may be provided for contracts only if a recipient awards such contracts to responsible contractors possessing the ability to successfully perform under the terms and conditions of a proposed procurement.
(2) Criteria.— 
Before making an award to a contractor under paragraph (1), a recipient shall consider
(A) the integrity of the contractor;
(B) the contractors compliance with public policy;
(C) the contractors past performance, including the performance reported in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reports required under section 5309 (l)(2); and
(D) the contractors financial and technical resources.

49 USC 5326 - Repealed. Pub. L. 10959, title III, 3025(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1622]

Section, Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 826; Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(11), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4379; Pub. L. 105–178, title III, § 3023(a), (b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 364, related to turnkey system projects, acquisition of rolling stock, and procurement of associated capital maintenance items.

49 USC 5327 - Project management oversight

(a) Project Management Plan Requirements.— 
To receive United States Government financial assistance for a major capital project under this chapter or the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 (Public Law 91143, 83 Stat. 320), a recipient must prepare and carry out a project management plan approved by the Secretary of Transportation. The plan shall provide for
(1) adequate recipient staff organization with well-defined reporting relationships, statements of functional responsibilities, job descriptions, and job qualifications;
(2) a budget covering the project management organization, appropriate consultants, property acquisition, utility relocation, systems demonstration staff, audits, and miscellaneous payments the recipient may be prepared to justify;
(3) a construction schedule for the project;
(4) a document control procedure and recordkeeping system;
(5) a change order procedure that includes a documented, systematic approach to the handling of construction change orders;
(6) organizational structures, management skills, and staffing levels required throughout the construction phase;
(7) quality control and quality assurance functions, procedures, and responsibilities for construction, system installation, and integration of system components;
(8) material testing policies and procedures;
(9) internal plan implementation and reporting requirements;
(10) criteria and procedures to be used for testing the operational system or its major components;
(11) periodic updates of the plan, especially related to project budget and project schedule, financing, ridership estimates, and the status of local efforts to enhance ridership where ridership estimates partly depend on the success of those efforts;
(12) the recipients commitment to submit a project budget and project schedule to the Secretary each month; and
(13) safety and security management.
(b) Plan Approval.— 

(1) The Secretary shall approve a plan not later than 60 days after it is submitted. If the approval cannot be completed within 60 days, the Secretary shall notify the recipient, explain the reasons for the delay, and estimate the additional time that will be required.
(2) The Secretary shall inform the recipient of the reasons when a plan is disapproved.
(c) Limitations.— 

(1) Limitations on use of available amounts.— 
Of the amounts made available to carry out this chapter for a fiscal year, the Secretary may use not more than the following amounts to make contracts for the activities described in paragraph (2):
(A) 0.5 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5305.
(B) 0.75 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5307.
(C) 1 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5309.
(D) 0.5 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5310.
(E) 0.5 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5311.
(F) 0.5 percent of amounts made available to carry out section 5320.
(2) Activities.— 
Paragraph (1) shall apply to the following:
(A) Activities to oversee the construction of a major project.
(B) Activities to review and audit the safety and security, procurement, management, and financial compliance of a recipient or subrecipient of funds under sections 5305, 5307, 5309, 5310, 5311, and 5320.
(C) Activities to provide technical assistance to correct deficiencies identified in compliance reviews and audits carried out under this section.
(3) Limitations on applicability.— 
Subsections (a), (b), and (e) do not apply to contracts under this section for activities described in paragraphs (2)(B) and (2)(C).
(4) Government’s share of costs.— 
The Government shall pay the entire cost of carrying out a contract under this subsection.
(5) Availability of certain funds.— 
Beginning in fiscal year 2006, funds available under paragraph (1)(C) shall be made available to the Secretary before allocating the funds appropriated to carry out any project under a full funding grant agreement or project construction grant agreement.
(d) Access to Sites and Records.— 
Each recipient of assistance under this chapter or section 14(b) of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 (Public Law 91143, 83 Stat. 320), as added by section 2 of the National Capital Transportation Amendments of 1979 (Public Law 96184, 93 Stat. 1320), shall provide the Secretary and a contractor the Secretary chooses under subsection (c) of this section with access to the construction sites and records of the recipient when reasonably necessary.
(e) Regulations.— 
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations necessary to carry out this section. The regulations shall include
(1) a definition of major capital project for subsection (c) of this section that excludes a project to acquire rolling stock or to maintain or rehabilitate a vehicle; and
(2) a requirement that oversight begin during the preliminary engineering stage of a project, unless the Secretary finds it more appropriate to begin the oversight during another stage of the project, to maximize the transportation benefits and cost savings associated with project management oversight.
(f) Financial Plan.— 
A recipient of financial assistance for a project under this chapter with an estimated total cost of $1,000,000,000 or more shall submit to the Secretary an annual financial plan for the project. The plan shall be based on detailed annual estimates of the cost to complete the remaining elements of the project and on reasonable assumptions, as determined by the Secretary, of future increases in the cost to complete the project.

49 USC 5328 - Project review

(a) Schedule.— 

(1) Alternatives analysis.— 
The Secretary shall cooperate with an applicant undertaking an alternatives analysis required by subsections (d) and (e) of section 5309 in the alternatives analysis and in preparing a draft environmental impact statement and shall approve the draft for circulation not later than 45 days after the applicant submits the draft to the Secretary.
(2) Advancement to preliminary engineering stage.— 
After the draft is circulated and not later than 30 days after the applicant selects a locally preferred alternative, the Secretary shall allow the project to advance to the preliminary engineering stage if the Secretary finds the project meets the requirements of subsection (d) or (e) of section 5309.
(3) Record of decision.— 
The Secretary shall issue a record of decision and allow a project to advance to the final design stage not later than 120 days after the final environmental impact statement for the project is completed if the Secretary determines that the project meets the requirements of subsection (d) or (e) of section 5309.
(4) Funding agreements.— 
The Secretary shall enter into a full funding grant agreement or project construction grant agreement, as appropriate, between the Government and the project sponsor if the Secretary determines that the project meets the requirements of subsection (d) or (e) of section 5309.
(b) Allowed Delays.— 

(1) Advancement of a project under the time requirements of subsection (a) of this section may be delayed only
(A) for the time the applicant may request; or
(B) during the time the Secretary finds, after reasonable notice and an opportunity for comment, that the applicant, for reasons attributable only to the applicant, has not complied substantially with the provisions of this chapter applicable to the project.
(2) Not more than 10 days after imposing a delay under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the Secretary shall give the applicant a written statement explaining the reasons for the delay and describing actions the applicant must take to end the delay.
(3) At least once every 6 months, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on each situation in which the Secretary has not met a time requirement of subsection (a) of this section or delayed a time requirement under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection. The report shall explain the reasons for the delay and include a plan for achieving timely completion of the Secretarys review.
(c) Program of Interrelated Projects.— 

(1) In this subsection, a program of interrelated projects includes the following:
(A) the New Jersey Urban Core Project (as defined in title III of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public Law 102240, 105 Stat. 2087)).
(B) the San Francisco Bay Area Rail Extension Program, consisting of at least an extension of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District to the San Francisco International Airport (Phase 1a to Colma and Phase 1b to San Francisco Airport), the Santa Clara County Transit District Tasman Corridor Project, a program element designated by a change to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Resolution No. 1876, and a program element financed completely with non-Government amounts, including the BART Warm Springs Extension, Dublin Extension, and West Pittsburg Extension.
(C) the Los Angeles Metro Rail Minimum Operable Segment-3 Program, consisting of 7 stations and approximately 11.6 miles of heavy rail subway on the following lines:
(i) one line running west and northwest from the Hollywood/Vine station to the North Hollywood station, with 2 intermediate stations.
(ii) one line running west from the Wilshire/Western station to the Pico/San Vicente station, with one intermediate station.
(iii) the East Side Extension, consisting of an initial line of approximately 3 miles, with at least 2 stations, beginning at Union Station and running generally east.
(D) the Baltimore-Washington Transportation Improvement Program, consisting of 3 extensions of the Baltimore Light Rail to Hunt Valley, Penn Station, and Baltimore-Washington Airport, MARC extensions to Frederick and Waldorf, Maryland, and an extension of the Washington Subway system to Largo, Maryland.
(E) the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon Light Rail Program, consisting of the locally preferred alternative for the Westside Light Rail Project, including system related costs, contained in the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 101516, 104 Stat. 2155), and defined in House Report 101584, the Hillsboro extension to the Westside Light Rail Project contained in that Act, and the locally preferred alternative for the South/North Corridor Project.
(F) the Queens Local/Express Connector Program, consisting of the locally preferred alternative for the connection of the 63d Street tunnel extension to the Queens Boulevard lines, the bell-mouth part of the connector that will allow for future access by commuter rail trains and other subway lines to the 63d Street tunnel extension, planning elements for connecting the upper and lower levels to commuter and subway lines in Long Island City, and planning elements for providing a connector for commuter rail transportation to the East side of Manhattan and subway lines to the proposed Second Avenue subway.
(G) the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority light rail elements of the New System Plan, consisting of the locally preferred alternative for the South Oak Cliff corridor, the South Oak Cliff corridor extension-Camp Wisdom, the West Oak Cliff corridor-Westmoreland, the North Central corridor-Park Lane, the North Central corridor-Richardson, Plano, and Garland extensions, the Pleasant Grove corridor-Buckner, and the Carrollton corridors-Farmers Branch and Las Colinas terminal.
(H) other programs designated by law or the Secretary.
(2) Consistent with the time requirements of subsection (a) of this section or as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary shall make at least one full financing grant agreement for each program described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. The agreement shall include commitments to advance each of the applicants program elements (in the program of interrelated projects) through the appropriate program review stages as provided in subsection (a) or as otherwise provided by law and to provide Government financing for each element. The agreement may be changed to include design and construction of a particular element.
(3) When reviewing a project in a program of interrelated projects, the Secretary shall consider the local financial commitment, transportation effectiveness, and other assessment factors of all program elements to the extent consideration expedites carrying out the project.
(4) Including a program element not financed by the Government in a program of interrelated projects does not impose Government requirements that otherwise would not apply to the element.

49 USC 5329 - Investigations of safety hazards and security risks

(a) In General.— 
The Secretary may conduct investigations into safety hazards and security risks associated with a condition in equipment, a facility, or an operation financed under this chapter to establish the nature and extent of the condition and how to eliminate, mitigate, or correct it.
(b) Submission of Corrective Plan.— 
If the Secretary establishes that a safety hazard or security risk warrants further protective measures, the Secretary shall require the local governmental authority receiving amounts under this chapter to submit a plan for eliminating, mitigating, or correcting it.
(c) Withholding Financial Assistance.— 
Financial assistance under this chapter, in an amount to be determined by the Secretary, may be withheld until a plan is approved and carried out.

49 USC 5330 - State safety oversight

(a) Application.— 
This section shall only apply to
(1) States that have rail fixed guideway public transportation systems that are not subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration; and
(2) States that are designing rail fixed guideway public transportation systems that will not be subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration.
(b) General Authority.— 
The Secretary of Transportation may withhold not more than 5 percent of the amount required to be appropriated for use in a State or urbanized area in the State under section 5307 of this title for a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1994, if the State in the prior fiscal year has not met the requirements of subsection (c) of this section and the Secretary decides the State is not making an adequate effort to comply with subsection (c).
(c) State Requirements.— 
A State meets the requirements of this section if the State
(1) establishes and is carrying out a safety program plan for each fixed guideway public transportation system in the State that establishes at least safety requirements, lines of authority, levels of responsibility and accountability, and methods of documentation for the system; and
(2) designates a State authority as having responsibility
(A) to require, review, approve, and monitor the carrying out of each plan;
(B) to investigate hazardous conditions and accidents on the systems; and
(C) to require corrective action to correct or eliminate those conditions.
(d) Multistate Involvement.— 
When more than one State is subject to this section in connection with a single public transportation authority, the affected States shall ensure uniform safety standards and enforcement or shall designate an entity (except the public transportation authority) to ensure uniform safety standards and enforcement and to meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
(e) Availability of Withheld Amounts.— 

(1) An amount withheld under subsection (b) of this section remains available for apportionment for use in the State until the end of the 2d fiscal year after the fiscal year for which the amount may be appropriated.
(2) If a State meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section before the last day of the period for which an amount withheld under subsection (b) of this section remains available under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary, on the first day on which the State meets the requirements, shall apportion to the State the amount withheld that remains available for apportionment for use in the State. An amount apportioned under this paragraph remains available until the end of the 3d fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the amount is apportioned. An amount not obligated at the end of the 3-year period shall be apportioned for use in other States under section 5336 of this title.
(3) If a State does not meet the requirements of subsection (c) of this section at the end of the period for which an amount withheld under subsection (b) of this section remains available under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the amount shall be apportioned for use in other States under section 5336 of this title.

49 USC 5331 - Alcohol and controlled substances testing

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section
(1) controlled substance means any substance under section 102 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 802) whose use the Secretary of Transportation decides has a risk to transportation safety.
(2) person includes any entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, a State, territory, or possession of the United States, or a foreign country.
(3) public transportation means any form of public transportation, except a form the Secretary decides is covered adequately, for employee alcohol and controlled substances testing purposes, under section 20140 or 31306 of this title or section 2303a, 7101 (i), or 7302 (e) of title 46. The Secretary may also decide that a form of public transportation is covered adequately, for employee alcohol and controlled substances testing purposes, under the alcohol and controlled substance statutes or regulations of an agency within the Department of Transportation or the Coast Guard.
(b) Testing Program for Public Transportation Employees.— 

(1) 
(A) In the interest of public transportation safety, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations that establish a program requiring public transportation operations that receive financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of public transportation employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation, and to conduct reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of such employees for the use of alcohol in violation of law or a United States Government regulation. The regulations shall permit such operations to conduct preemployment testing of such employees for the use of alcohol.
(B) When the Secretary of Transportation considers it appropriate in the interest of safety, the Secretary may prescribe regulations for conducting periodic recurring testing of public transportation employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation.
(2) In prescribing regulations under this subsection, the Secretary of Transportation
(A) shall require that post-accident testing of such a public transportation employee be conducted when loss of human life occurs in an accident involving public transportation; and
(B) may require that post-accident testing of such a public transportation employee be conducted when bodily injury or significant property damage occurs in any other serious accident involving public transportation.
(c) Disqualifications for Use.— 

(1) When the Secretary of Transportation considers it appropriate, the Secretary shall require disqualification for an established period of time or dismissal of any employee referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this section who is found
(A) to have used or been impaired by alcohol when on duty; or
(B) to have used a controlled substance, whether or not on duty, except as allowed for medical purposes by law or regulation.
(2) This section does not supersede any penalty applicable to a public transportation employee under another law.
(d) Testing and Laboratory Requirements.— 
In carrying out subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop requirements that shall
(1) promote, to the maximum extent practicable, individual privacy in the collection of specimens;
(2) for laboratories and testing procedures for controlled substances, incorporate the Department of Health and Human Services scientific and technical guidelines dated April 11, 1988, and any amendments to those guidelines, including mandatory guidelines establishing
(A) comprehensive standards for every aspect of laboratory controlled substances testing and laboratory procedures to be applied in carrying out this section, including standards requiring the use of the best available technology to ensure the complete reliability and accuracy of controlled substances tests and strict procedures governing the chain of custody of specimens collected for controlled substances testing;
(B) the minimum list of controlled substances for which individuals may be tested; and
(C) appropriate standards and procedures for periodic review of laboratories and criteria for certification and revocation of certification of laboratories to perform controlled substances testing in carrying out this section;
(3) require that a laboratory involved in controlled substances testing under this section have the capability and facility, at the laboratory, of performing screening and confirmation tests;
(4) provide that all tests indicating the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation be confirmed by a scientifically recognized method of testing capable of providing quantitative information about alcohol or a controlled substance;
(5) provide that each specimen be subdivided, secured, and labeled in the presence of the tested individual and that a part of the specimen be retained in a secure manner to prevent the possibility of tampering, so that if the individuals confirmation test results are positive the individual has an opportunity to have the retained part tested by a 2d confirmation test done independently at another certified laboratory if the individual requests the 2d confirmation test not later than 3 days after being advised of the results of the first confirmation test;
(6) ensure appropriate safeguards for testing to detect and quantify alcohol in breath and body fluid samples, including urine and blood, through the development of regulations that may be necessary and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(7) provide for the confidentiality of test results and medical information (except information about alcohol or a controlled substance) of employees, except that this clause does not prevent the use of test results for the orderly imposition of appropriate sanctions under this section; and
(8) ensure that employees are selected for tests by nondiscriminatory and impartial methods, so that no employee is harassed by being treated differently from other employees in similar circumstances.
(e) Rehabilitation.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations establishing requirements for rehabilitation programs that provide for the identification and opportunity for treatment of any public transportation employee referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this section who is found to have used alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation. The Secretary shall decide on the circumstances under which employees shall be required to participate in a program. This subsection does not prevent a public transportation operation from establishing a program under this section in cooperation with another public transportation operation.
(f) Relationship to Other Laws, Regulations, Standards, and Orders.— 

(1) A State or local government may not prescribe, issue, or continue in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order that is inconsistent with regulations prescribed under this section. However, a regulation prescribed under this section does not preempt a State criminal law that imposes sanctions for reckless conduct leading to loss of life, injury, or damage to property.
(2) In prescribing regulations under this section, the Secretary of Transportation
(A) shall establish only requirements that are consistent with international obligations of the United States; and
(B) shall consider applicable laws and regulations of foreign countries.
(g) Ineligibility for Assistance.— 
A person is not eligible for financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title if the person is required, under regulations the Secretary of Transportation prescribes under this section, to establish a program of alcohol and controlled substances testing and does not establish the program.

49 USC 5332 - Nondiscrimination

(a) Definition.— 
In this section, person includes a governmental authority, political subdivision, authority, legal representative, trust, unincorporated organization, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, and receiver.
(b) Prohibitions.— 
A person may not be excluded from participating in, denied a benefit of, or discriminated against under, a project, program, or activity receiving financial assistance under this chapter because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age.
(c) Compliance.— 

(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall take affirmative action to ensure compliance with subsection (b) of this section.
(2) When the Secretary decides that a person receiving financial assistance under this chapter is not complying with subsection (b) of this section, a civil rights law of the United States, or a regulation or order under that law, the Secretary shall notify the person of the decision and require action be taken to ensure compliance with subsection (b).
(d) Authority of Secretary for Noncompliance.— 
If a person does not comply with subsection (b) of this section within a reasonable time after receiving notice, the Secretary shall
(1) direct that no further financial assistance of the United States Government under this chapter be provided to the person;
(2) refer the matter to the Attorney General with a recommendation that a civil action be brought;
(3) proceed under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); and
(4) take any other action provided by law.
(e) Civil Actions by Attorney General.— 
The Attorney General may bring a civil action for appropriate relief when
(1) a matter is referred to the Attorney General under subsection (d)(2) of this section; or
(2) the Attorney General believes a person is engaged in a pattern or practice in violation of this section.
(f) Application and Relationship to Other Laws.— 
This section applies to an employment or business opportunity and is in addition to title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.).

49 USC 5333 - Labor standards

(a) Prevailing Wages Requirement.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors in construction work financed with a grant or loan under this chapter be paid wages not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor under sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40. The Secretary of Transportation may approve a grant or loan only after being assured that required labor standards will be maintained on the construction work. For a labor standard under this subsection, the Secretary of Labor has the same duties and powers stated in Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950 (eff. May 24, 1950, 64 Stat. 1267) and section 3145 of title 40.
(b) Employee Protective Arrangements.— 

(1) As a condition of financial assistance under sections 5307–5312, 5316, 5318, 5323 (a)(1), 5323 (b), 5323 (d), 5328, 5337, and 5338 (b) of this title, the interests of employees affected by the assistance shall be protected under arrangements the Secretary of Labor concludes are fair and equitable. The agreement granting the assistance under sections 5307–5312, 5316, 5318, 5323 (a)(1), 5323 (b), 5323 (d), 5328, 5337, and 5338 (b) shall specify the arrangements.
(2) Arrangements under this subsection shall include provisions that may be necessary for
(A) the preservation of rights, privileges, and benefits (including continuation of pension rights and benefits) under existing collective bargaining agreements or otherwise;
(B) the continuation of collective bargaining rights;
(C) the protection of individual employees against a worsening of their positions related to employment;
(D) assurances of employment to employees of acquired public transportation systems;
(E) assurances of priority of reemployment of employees whose employment is ended or who are laid off; and
(F) paid training or retraining programs.
(3) Arrangements under this subsection shall provide benefits at least equal to benefits established under section 11326 of this title.
(4) Fair and equitable arrangements to protect the interests of employees utilized by the Secretary of Labor for assistance to purchase like-kind equipment or facilities, and grant amendments which do not materially revise or amend existing assistance agreements, shall be certified without referral.
(5) When the Secretary is called upon to issue fair and equitable determinations involving assurances of employment when one private transit bus service contractor replaces another through competitive bidding, such decisions shall be based on the principles set forth in the Department of Labors decision of September 21, 1994, as clarified by the supplemental ruling of November 7, 1994, with respect to grant NV90X021. This paragraph shall not serve as a basis for objections under section 215.3(d) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations.

49 USC 5334 - Administrative provisions

(a) General Authority.— 
In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary of Transportation may
(1) prescribe terms for a project under sections 5307 and 5309–5311 of this title (except terms the Secretary of Labor prescribes under section 5333 (b) of this title);
(2) sue and be sued;
(3) foreclose on property or bring a civil action to protect or enforce a right conferred on the Secretary of Transportation by law or agreement;
(4) buy property related to a loan under this chapter;
(5) agree to pay an annual amount in place of a State or local tax on real property acquired or owned under this chapter;
(6) sell, exchange, or lease property, a security, or an obligation;
(7) obtain loss insurance for property and assets the Secretary of Transportation holds;
(8) consent to a modification in an agreement under this chapter;
(9) include in an agreement or instrument under this chapter a covenant or term the Secretary of Transportation considers necessary to carry out this chapter;
(10) collect fees to cover the costs of training or conferences, including costs of promotional materials, sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration to promote public transportation and credit amounts collected to the appropriation concerned; and
(11) issue regulations as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(b) Prohibitions Against Regulating Operations and Charges.— 

(1) In general.— 
Except for purposes of national defense or in the event of a national or regional emergency, the Secretary may not regulate the operation, routes, or schedules of a public transportation system for which a grant is made under this chapter, nor may the Secretary regulate the rates, fares, tolls, rentals, or other charges prescribed by any provider of public transportation.
(2) Limitation on statutory construction.— 
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the Secretary from requiring a recipient of funds under this chapter to comply with the terms and conditions of its Federal assistance agreement.
(c) Procedures for Prescribing Regulations.— 

(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall prepare an agenda listing all areas in which the Secretary intends to propose regulations governing activities under this chapter within the following 12 months. The Secretary shall publish the proposed agenda in the Federal Register as part of the Secretarys semiannual regulatory agenda that lists regulatory activities of the Federal Transit Administration. The Secretary shall submit the agenda to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate on the day the agenda is published.
(2) Except for emergency regulations, the Secretary of Transportation shall give interested parties at least 60 days to participate in a regulatory proceeding under this chapter by submitting written information, views, or arguments, with or without an oral presentation, except when the Secretary for good cause finds that public notice and comment are unnecessary because of the routine nature or insignificant impact of the regulation or that an emergency regulation should be issued. The Secretary may extend the 60-day period if the Secretary decides the period is insufficient to allow diligent individuals to prepare comments or that other circumstances justify an extension.
(3) An emergency regulation ends 120 days after it is issued.
(4) The Secretary of Transportation shall comply with this section (except subsection (i)) and sections 5318 (e), 5323 (a)(2), 5325 (a), 5325 (b), and 5325 (f) when proposing or carrying out a regulation governing an activity under this chapter, except for a routine matter or a matter with no significant impact.
(d) Budget Program and Set of Accounts.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall
(1) submit each year a budget program as provided in section 9103 of title 31; and
(2) maintain a set of accounts for audit under chapter 35 of title 31.
(e) Depository and Availability of Amounts.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall deposit amounts made available to the Secretary under this chapter in a checking account in the Treasury. Receipts, assets, and amounts obtained or held by the Secretary to carry out this chapter are available for administrative expenses to carry out this chapter.
(f) Binding Effect of Financial Transaction.— 
A financial transaction of the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter and a related voucher are binding on all officers and employees of the United States Government.
(g) Dealing With Acquired Property.— 
Notwithstanding another law related to the Government acquiring, using, or disposing of real property, the Secretary of Transportation may deal with property acquired under subsection (a)(3) or (4) of this section in any way. However, this subsection does not
(1) deprive a State or political subdivision of a State of jurisdiction of the property; or
(2) impair the civil rights, under the laws of a State or political subdivision of a State, of an inhabitant of the property.
(h) Transfer of Assets No Longer Needed.— 

(1) If a recipient of assistance under this chapter decides an asset acquired under this chapter at least in part with that assistance is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was acquired, the Secretary of Transportation may authorize the recipient to transfer the asset to a local governmental authority to be used for a public purpose with no further obligation to the Government. The Secretary may authorize a transfer for a public purpose other than public transportation only if the Secretary decides
(A) the asset will remain in public use for at least 5 years after the date the asset is transferred;
(B) there is no purpose eligible for assistance under this chapter for which the asset should be used;
(C) the overall benefit of allowing the transfer is greater than the interest of the Government in liquidation and return of the financial interest of the Government in the asset, after considering fair market value and other factors; and
(D) through an appropriate screening or survey process, that there is no interest in acquiring the asset for Government use if the asset is a facility or land.
(2) A decision under paragraph (1) of this section must be in writing and include the reason for the decision.
(3) This subsection is in addition to another law related to using and disposing of a facility or equipment under an assistance agreement.
(4) Proceeds from the sale of transit assets.— 

(A) In general.— 
When real property, equipment, or supplies acquired with assistance under this chapter are no longer needed for public transportation purposes as determined under the applicable assistance agreement, the Secretary may authorize the sale, transfer, or lease of the assets under conditions determined by the Secretary and subject to the requirements of this subsection.
(B) Use.— 
The net income from asset sales, uses, or leases (including lease renewals) under this subsection shall be used by the recipient to reduce the gross project cost of other capital projects carried out under this chapter.
(C) Relationship to other authority.— 
The authority of the Secretary under this subsection is in addition to existing authorities controlling allocation or use of recipient income otherwise permissible in law or regulation in effect prior to the date of enactment of this paragraph.
(i) Transfer of Amounts and Non-Government Share.— 

(1) Amounts made available for a public transportation project under title 23 shall be transferred to and administered by the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter. Amounts made available for a highway project under this chapter shall be transferred to and administered by the Secretary under title 23.
(2) The provisions of title 23 related to the non-Government share apply to amounts under title 23 used for public transportation projects. The provisions of this chapter related to the non-Government share apply to amounts under this chapter used for highway projects.
(j) Relationship to Other Laws.— 

(1) Section 9107 (a) of title 31 applies to the Secretary of Transportation under this chapter.
(2) Section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) applies to a contract for more than $1,000 for services or supplies related to property acquired under this chapter.
(k) Notification of Pending Discretionary Grants.— 
Not less than 3 full business days before announcement of award by the Secretary of any discretionary grant, letter of intent, or full funding grant agreement totaling $1,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the Senate and Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(l) Agency Statements.— 

(1) In general.— 
The Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration shall follow applicable rulemaking procedures under section 553 of title 5 before the Federal Transit Administration issues a statement that imposes a binding obligation on recipients of Federal assistance under this chapter.
(2) Binding obligation defined.— 
In this subsection, the term binding obligation means a substantive policy statement, rule, or guidance document issued by the Federal Transit Administration that grants rights, imposes obligations, produces significant effects on private interests, or effects a significant change in existing policy.

49 USC 5335 - National transit database

(a) National Transit Database.— 
To help meet the needs of individual public transportation systems, the United States Government, State and local governments, and the public for information on which to base public transportation service planning, the Secretary of Transportation shall maintain a reporting system, using uniform categories to accumulate public transportation financial and operating information and using a uniform system of accounts. The reporting and uniform systems shall contain appropriate information to help any level of government make a public sector investment decision. The Secretary may request and receive appropriate information from any source.
(b) Reporting and Uniform Systems.— 
The Secretary may award a grant under section 5307 or 5311 only if the applicant, and any person that will receive benefits directly from the grant, are subject to the reporting and uniform systems.

49 USC 5336 - Apportionment of appropriations for formula grants

(a) Based on Urbanized Area Population.— 
Of the amount apportioned under subsection (i)(2) to carry out section 5307
(1) 9.32 percent shall be apportioned each fiscal year only in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 so that each of those areas is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(A) 50 percent of the total amount apportioned multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 as shown in the latest United States Government census; and
(B) 50 percent of the total amount apportioned multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary of Transportation, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile; and
(2) 90.68 percent shall be apportioned each fiscal year only in urbanized areas with populations of at least 200,000 as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, except that the amount apportioned to the Anchorage urbanized area under subsection (b) shall be available to the Alaska Railroad for any costs related to its passenger operations.
(b) Based on Fixed Guideway Revenue Vehicle-Miles, Route-Miles, and Passenger-Miles.— 

(1) In this subsection, fixed guideway revenue vehicle-miles and fixed guideway route-miles include ferry boat operations directly or under contract by the designated recipient and, beginning in fiscal year 2006, 60 percent of the directional route miles attributable to the Alaska Railroad passenger operations.
(2) Of the amount apportioned under subsection (a)(2) of this section, 33.29 percent shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 95.61 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(i) 60 percent of the 95.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the number of fixed guideway revenue vehicle-miles attributable to the area, as established by the Secretary of Transportation, divided by the total number of all fixed guideway revenue vehicle-miles attributable to all areas; and
(ii) 40 percent of the 95.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the number of fixed guideway route-miles attributable to the area, established by the Secretary, divided by the total number of all fixed guideway route-miles attributable to all areas.

An urbanized area with a population of at least 750,000 in which commuter rail transportation is provided shall receive at least .75 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subparagraph.

(B) 4.39 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(i) the number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger-miles traveled multiplied by the number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger-miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in an area; divided by
(ii) the total number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger-miles traveled multiplied by the total number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger-miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in all areas.

An urbanized area with a population of at least 750,000 in which commuter rail transportation is provided shall receive at least .75 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subparagraph.

(C) Under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, fixed guideway revenue vehicle- or route-miles, and passengers served on those miles, in an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, where the miles and passengers served otherwise would be attributable to an urbanized area with a population of at least 1,000,000 in an adjacent State, are attributable to the governmental authority in the State in which the urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 is located. The authority is deemed an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 if the authority makes a contract for the service.
(D) A recipients apportionment under subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph may not be reduced if the recipient, after satisfying the Secretary of Transportation that energy or operating efficiencies would be achieved, reduces revenue vehicle-miles but provides the same frequency of revenue service to the same number of riders.
(c) [1] Based on Bus Revenue Vehicle-Miles and Passenger-Miles.Of the amount apportioned under subsection (a)(2) of this section, 66.71 percent shall be apportioned as follows:
(1) 90.8 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 73.39 percent of the 90.8 percent apportioned under this paragraph shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 1,000,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(i) 50 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the total bus revenue vehicle-miles operated in or directly serving the urbanized area divided by the total bus revenue vehicle-miles attributable to all areas;
(ii) 25 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all areas, as shown by the latest Government census; and
(iii) 25 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary of Transportation, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile.
(B) 26.61 percent of the 90.8 percent apportioned under this paragraph shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999 is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(i) 50 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the total bus revenue vehicle-miles operated in or directly serving the urbanized area divided by the total bus revenue vehicle-miles attributable to all areas;
(ii) 25 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all areas, as shown by the latest Government census; and
(iii) 25 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary of Transportation, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile.
(2) 9.2 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to
(A) the number of bus passenger-miles traveled multiplied by the number of bus passenger-miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in an area; divided by
(B) the total number of bus passenger-miles traveled multiplied by the total number of bus passenger-miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in all areas.
(d) Date of Apportionment.— 
The Secretary of Transportation shall
(1) apportion amounts appropriated under subsections (a) and (h)(2) of section 5338[2] of this title to carry out section 5307 of this title not later than the 10th day after the date the amounts are appropriated or October 1 of the fiscal year for which the amounts are appropriated, whichever is later; and
(2) publish apportionments of the amounts, including amounts attributable to each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 and amounts attributable to each State of a multistate urbanized area, on the apportionment date.
(e) Amounts Not Apportioned to Designated Recipients.— 
The chief executive officer of a State may expend in an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 an amount apportioned under this section that is not apportioned to a designated recipient as defined in section 5307 (a) of this title.
(f) Transfers of Apportionments.— 

(1) The chief executive officer of a State may transfer any part of the States apportionment under subsection (a)(1) of this section to supplement amounts apportioned to the State under section 5311 (c) of this title or amounts apportioned to urbanized areas under this subsection. The chief executive officer may make a transfer only after consulting with responsible local officials and publicly owned operators of public transportation in each area for which the amount originally was apportioned under this section.
(2) The chief executive officer of a State may transfer any part of the States apportionment under section 5311 (c) of this title to supplement amounts apportioned to the State under subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(3) The chief executive officer of a State may use throughout the State amounts of a States apportionment remaining available for obligation at the beginning of the 90-day period before the period of the availability of the amounts expires.
(4) A designated recipient for an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 may transfer a part of its apportionment under this section to the chief executive officer of a State. The chief executive officer shall distribute the transferred amounts to urbanized areas under this section.
(5) Capital and operating assistance limitations applicable to the original apportionment apply to amounts transferred under this subsection.
(g) Period of Availability to Recipients.— 
An amount apportioned under this section may be obligated by the recipient for 3 years after the fiscal year in which the amount is apportioned. Not later than 30 days after the end of the 3-year period, an amount that is not obligated at the end of that period shall be added to the amount that may be apportioned under this section in the next fiscal year.
(h) Application of Other Sections.— 
Sections 5302, 5318, 5323 (a)(1), (d), and (f), 5332, and 5333 of this title apply to this section and to a grant made with funds apportioned under this section. Except as provided in this section, no other provision of this chapter applies to this section or to a grant made with funds apportioned under this section.
(i) Apportionments.— 
Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsections (a)(1)(C)(vi) and (b)(2)(B) of section 5338
(1) one percent shall be apportioned, in fiscal year 2006 and each fiscal year thereafter, to certain urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 in accordance with subsection (j); and
(2) any amount not apportioned under paragraph (1) shall be apportioned to urbanized areas in accordance with subsections (a) through (c).
(j) Small Transit Intensive Cities Formula.— 

(1) Definitions.— 
In this subsection, the following definitions apply:
(A) Eligible area.— 
The term eligible area means an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 that meets or exceeds in one or more performance categories the industry average for all urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (c)(2).
(B) Performance category.— 
The term performance category means each of the following:
(i) Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue mile.
(ii) Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue hour.
(iii) Vehicle revenue miles per capita.
(iv) Vehicle revenue hours per capita.
(v) Passenger miles traveled per capita.
(vi) Passengers per capita.
(2) Apportionment.— 

(A) Apportionment formula.— 
The amount to be apportioned under subsection (i)(1) shall be apportioned among eligible areas in the ratio that
(i) the number of performance categories for which each eligible area meets or exceeds the industry average in urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999; bears to
(ii) the aggregate number of performance categories for which all eligible areas meet or exceed the industry average in urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999.
(B) Data used in formula.— 
The Secretary shall calculate apportionments under this subsection for a fiscal year using data from the national transit database used to calculate apportionments for that fiscal year under this section.
(c) [3] Study on Incentives in Formula Programs.
(1) Study.— 
The Secretary shall conduct a study to assess the feasibility and appropriateness of developing and implementing an incentive funding system under sections 5307 and 5311 for operators of public transportation.
(2) Report.— 

(A) In general.— 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005, the Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(B) Contents.— 
The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include
(i) an analysis of the availability of appropriate measures to be used as a basis for the distribution of incentive payments;
(ii) the optimal number and size of any incentive programs;
(iii) what types of systems should compete for various incentives;
(iv) how incentives should be distributed; and
(v) the likely effects of the incentive funding system.
[1] Another subsec. (c) appears at end of section.
[2] See References in Text note below.
[3] So in original. Probably should be “(k)”.

49 USC 5337 - Apportionment based on fixed guideway factors

(a) Distribution.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available for fixed guideway modernization under section 5309 for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003 as follows:
(1) The first $497,700,000 shall be apportioned in the following urbanized areas as follows:
(A) Baltimore, $8,372,000.
(B) Boston, $38,948,000.
(C) Chicago/Northwestern Indiana, $78,169,000.
(D) Cleveland, $9,509,500.
(E) New Orleans, $1,730,588.
(F) New York, $176,034,461.
(G) Northeastern New Jersey, $50,604,653.
(H) Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, $58,924,764.
(I) Pittsburgh, $13,662,463.
(J) San Francisco, $33,989,571.
(K) Southwestern Connecticut, $27,755,000.
(2) The next $70,000,000 shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 50 percent in the urbanized areas listed in paragraph (1), as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A).
(B) 50 percent in other urbanized areas eligible for assistance under section 5336 (b)(2)(A) to which amounts were apportioned under this section for fiscal year 1997, as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(1) of this section.
(3) The next $5,700,000 shall be apportioned in the following urbanized areas as follows:
(A) Pittsburgh, 61.76 percent.
(B) Cleveland, 10.73 percent.
(C) New Orleans, 5.79 percent.
(D) 21.72 percent in urbanized areas to which paragraph (2)(B) applies, as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(1) of this section.
(4) The next $186,600,000 shall be apportioned in each urbanized area to which paragraph (1) applies and in each urbanized area to which paragraph (2)(B) applies, as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(1) of this section.
(5) The next $70,000,000 shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 65 percent in the urbanized areas listed in paragraph (1), as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(B) 35 percent to other urbanized areas eligible for assistance under section 5336 (b)(2)(A) if the areas contain fixed guideway systems placed in revenue service at least 7 years before the fiscal year in which amounts are made available and in any urbanized area if, before the first day of the fiscal year, the area satisfies the Secretary that the area has modernization needs that cannot adequately be met with amounts received under section 5336 (b)(2)(A), as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(6) The next $50,000,000 shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 60 percent in the urbanized areas listed in paragraph (1), as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(B) 40 percent to urbanized areas to which paragraph (5)(B) applies, as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(7) Remaining amounts shall be apportioned as follows:
(A) 50 percent in the urbanized areas listed in paragraph (1), as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(B) 50 percent to urbanized areas to which paragraph (5)(B) applies, as provided in section 5336 (b)(2)(A) and subsection (e)(2) of this section.
(b) Total Amounts Not Available.— 
In a fiscal year in which the total amounts authorized under subsection (a)(1) and (2) of this section are not available, the Secretary shall reduce on a proportionate basis the apportionments of all urbanized areas eligible under subsection (a)(1) or (2) to adjust for the amount not available.
(c) New Jersey Transit Corporation.— 
Rail modernization amounts allocated to the New Jersey Transit Corporation under this section may be spent in any urbanized area in which the New Jersey Transit Corporation operates rail transportation, regardless of which urbanized area generates the financing.
(d) Availability of Amounts.— 
An amount apportioned under this section
(1) remains available for 3 years after the fiscal year in which the amount is apportioned; and
(2) that is unobligated at the end of the 3-year period shall be reapportioned for the next fiscal year among urbanized areas eligible under subsection (a)(1)(3) of this section using the apportionment formula of this section.
(e) Route Segments To Be Included in Apportionment Formulas.— 

(1) 1997 standard.— 
Amounts apportioned under paragraphs (2)(B), (3), and (4) of subsection (a) shall have attributable to each urbanized area only the number of fixed guideway revenue miles of service and number of fixed guideway route miles for segments of fixed guideway systems used to determine apportionments for fiscal year 1997.
(2) Other standards.— 
Amounts apportioned under paragraphs (5) through (7) of subsection (a) shall have attributable to each urbanized area only the number of fixed guideway revenue miles of service and number of fixed guideway route-miles for segments of fixed guideway systems placed in revenue service at least 7 years before the fiscal year in which amounts are made available.
(f) Adjustment.— 
For purposes of this section, an urbanized area with a population of 55,997, according to the most recent decennial census, shall be treated as an urbanized area eligible for assistance under section 5336 (b)(2)(A) to which amounts were apportioned under this section for fiscal year 1997. For the purposes of subsection (e)(1), the number of fixed guideway revenue vehicle miles of service and number of fixed guideway route miles for that urbanized area as of the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005 shall be considered to have been used to determine apportionments for fiscal year 1997.

49 USC 5338 - Authorizations

(a) Fiscal Year 2005.— 

(1) Formula grants.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $3,499,927,776 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out sections 5307, 5308, 5310, and 5311 and section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note ).
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to the amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $499,989,824 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out sections 5307, 5308, 5310, and 5311 and section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note ).
(C) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated under this paragraph
(i) $4,811,150 shall be available to the Alaska Railroad for improvements to its passenger operations under section 5307;
(ii) $5,208,000 shall be available to provide over-the-road bus accessibility grants under section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note ) to operators of intercity, fixed-route over-the-road buses;
(iii) $1,686,400 shall be available to provide over-the-road bus accessibility grants under section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note ) to operators of over-the-road buses providing other than intercity, fixed-route service;
(iv) $94,526,689 shall be available to provide transportation services to elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities under section 5310;
(v) $250,889,588 shall be available to provide financial assistance for other than urbanized areas under section 5311;
(vi) $3,593,195,773 shall be available to provide financial assistance for urbanized areas under section 5307; and
(vii) $49,600,000 shall be available to carry out the clean fuels program under section 5308.
(2) Job access and reverse commute.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $108,500,000 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5309 note ).
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to the amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5309 note ).
(3) Capital program grants.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $2,898,100,224 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out section 5309.
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to the amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $414,014,176 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out sections 5308, 5309, and 5318 and section 3015(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 361).
(C) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated under this paragraph
(i) $49,600,000 shall be available to carry out the clean fuels program under section 5308;
(ii) $669,600,000 shall be available for capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase bus and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities under section 5309;
(iii) $1,204,684,800 shall be available for fixed guideway modernization under section 5309;
(iv) $1,437,829,600 shall be available for capital projects for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to existing fixed guideway systems under section 5309;
(v) $10,213,632 shall be available for capital projects in Alaska and Hawaii under section 5309;
(vi) $2,976,000 shall be available to carry out bus testing under section 5318; and
(vii) $4,811,200 shall be available to carry out the fuel cell bus and bus facilities program under section 3015(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 361).
(4) Planning.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $63,364,000 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out sections 5303, 5304, 5305, and 5313 (b), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005.
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to the amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $9,052,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out sections 5303, 5304, 5305, and 5313 (b), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005.
(C) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated under this paragraph
(i) 82.72 percent shall be allocated for metropolitan planning under section 5305; and
(ii) 17.28 percent shall be allocated for State planning under section 5305.
(5) Research.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $47,740,000 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out sections 5311 (b)(2), 5312, 5313 (a), 5314, 5315, and 5322.
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to the amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,820,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out sections 5311 (b)(2), 5312, 5313 (a), 5314, 5315, and 5322.
(C) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the funds made available or appropriated under this paragraph
(i) not less than $3,968,000 shall be available to carry out programs under the National Transit Institute under section 5315, of which not more than $992,000 shall be available to carry out section 5315 (a)(16);
(ii) not less than $5,208,000 shall be available to provide rural transportation assistance under section 5311 (b)(2);
(iii) not less than $8,184,000 shall be available to carry out transit cooperative research programs under section 5313 (a);
(iv) not less than $2,976,000 shall be available to carry out Project Action under section 5312; and
(v) the remainder shall be available to carry out national research and technology programs under sections 5312, 5314, and 5322.
(6) University transportation research.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $5,208,000 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out section 5505.
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $744,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out section 5505.
(C) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the amounts made available or appropriated under this paragraph
(i) $1,984,000 shall be available for grants under section 5505 (d) to the center identified in section 5505 (j)(4)(A), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005; and
(ii) $1,984,000 shall be available for grants under section 5505 (d) to the center identified in section 5505 (j)(4)(F), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2005.
(D) Special rule.— 
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the transportation research conducted by the centers receiving financial assistance under this section.
(7) Administration.— 

(A) Trust fund.— 
For fiscal year 2005, $67,704,000 shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out section 5334.
(B) General fund.— 
In addition to amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated $9,672,000 for fiscal year 2005 to carry out section 5334.
(8) Availability of amounts.— 
Amounts made available or appropriated under paragraphs (1) through (6) shall remain available until expended.
(b) Formula and Bus Grants.— 

(1) In general.— 
There shall be available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to carry out sections 5305, 5307, 5308, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5316, 5317, 5320, 5335, 5339, and 5340 and section 3038 of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 387 et seq.)[1]
(A) $6,979,931,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(B) $7,262,775,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(C) $7,872,893,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(D) $8,360,565,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(2) Allocation of funds.— 
Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1)
(A) $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $99,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $107,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $113,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5305;
(B) $3,466,681,000 for fiscal year 2006, $3,606,175,000 for fiscal year 2007, $3,910,843,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $4,160,365,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be allocated in accordance with section 5336 to provide financial assistance for urbanized areas under section 5307;
(C) $43,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $49,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $51,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5308;
(D) $1,391,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $1,448,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $1,570,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $1,666,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be allocated in accordance with section 5337 to provide financial assistance under section 5309 (m)(2)(B);
(E) $822,250,000 for fiscal year 2006, $855,500,000 for fiscal year 2007, $927,750,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $984,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5309 (m)(2)(C);
(F) $112,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $117,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $127,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $133,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to provide financial assistance for services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities under section 5310;
(G) $388,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $404,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $438,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $465,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to provide financial assistance for other than urbanized areas under section 5311;
(H) $138,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $144,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $156,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $164,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5316;
(I) $78,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $81,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $87,500,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $92,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5317;
(J) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $26,900,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5320;
(K) $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2006; $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2007; $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2008; and $3,500,000 in fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5335;
(L) $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2006; $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2007; $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2008; and $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 5339;
(M) $388,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $404,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $438,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $465,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be allocated in accordance with section 5340 to provide financial assistance for urbanized areas under section 5307 and other than urbanized areas under section 5311; and
(N) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2006, $7,600,000 for fiscal year 2007, $8,300,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $8,800,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be available to carry out section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note ).
(c) Capital Investment Grants.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5309 (m)(2)(A)
(1) $1,503,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $1,566,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $1,700,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(4) $1,809,250,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(d) Research and University Research Centers.— 

(1) In general.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out transit cooperative research programs under section 5313, the National Transit Institute under section 5315, university research centers under section 5506, and national research programs under sections 5312, 5313, 5314, and 5322 $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $65,500,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $69,750,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which
(A) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, $9,300,000 for fiscal year 2007, $9,600,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 shall be allocated to carry out transit cooperative research programs under section 5313;
(B) $4,300,000 shall be allocated for each fiscal year to carry out programs under the National Transit Institute under section 5315, of which not more than $1,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be used to carry out section 5315 (a)(16);
(C) $7,000,000 shall be allocated for each fiscal year to carry out the university centers program under section 5506;
(D) $3,000,000 shall be allocated for each fiscal year to carry out Project Action under section 5314 (a)(2);
(E) $1,000,000 shall be allocated for each fiscal year to carry out the National Technical Assistance Center under section 5314 (c); and
(F) any funds made available under this paragraph that are not allocated under subparagraphs (A) through (E) shall be allocated to carry out national research programs under sections 5312, 5313, 5314, and 5322.
(2) University centers program.— 

(A) Allocation.— 
Of the amounts allocated under paragraph (1)(C), the following amounts shall be available to provide transportation research, training, and curriculum development:
(i) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for the University of TennesseeKnoxville National Transportation Research Center.
(ii) $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for Texas A&M UniversityTexas Transportation Institute.
(iii) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009 for Morgan State University.
(iv) $400,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for the Small Urban and Rural Transit Center at North Dakota State University.
(v) $550,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and $650,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the University Transportation Center at the University of Alabama.
(vi) $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and $550,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the Injury Control Research Center at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
(vii) $550,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and $650,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the Jackson State University Intermodal Transportation Institute at the Jackson State University.
(viii) $550,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and $650,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the University Transportation Center at the University of Denver/Mississippi State University.
(B) Requirements.— 
The universities specified in subparagraph (A) shall be considered to be university transportation centers under section 5506 and shall be subject to the requirements of subsections (b), (h), (i), (k), (l), and (m) of such section.
(e) Administration.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 5334
(1) $82,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(3) $92,500,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(4) $98,500,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(f) Grants as Contractual Obligations.— 

(1) Grants financed from highway trust fund.— 
A grant or contract that is approved by the Secretary and financed with amounts made available from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund pursuant to this section is a contractual obligation of the Government to pay the Federal share of the cost of the project.
(2) Grants financed from general fund.— 
A grant or contract that is approved by the Secretary and financed with amounts appropriated in advance from the General Fund of the Treasury pursuant to this section is a contractual obligation of the Government to pay the Federal share of the cost of the project only to the extent that amounts are appropriated for such purpose by an Act of Congress.
(g) Availability of Amounts.— 
Amounts made available by or appropriated under subsections (b), (c), and (d) shall remain available until expended.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “(112 Stat. 392)—”.

49 USC 5339 - Alternatives analysis program

(a) Grants and Agreements.— 
Under criteria established by the Secretary, the Secretary may award grants to States, authorities of the States, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governmental authorities to develop alternatives analyses as defined by section 5309 (a)(1).
(b) Government’s Share of Costs.— 
The Governments share of the cost of an activity funded using amounts made available under this section may not exceed 80 percent of the cost of the activity.
(c) Availability of Funds.— 
An amount made available or appropriated under section 5338 (b)(2)(L) for this section shall remain available for 3 fiscal years, including the fiscal year in which the amount is made available or appropriated. Any of such amounts that are unobligated at the end of the 3-fiscal-year period may be used by the Secretary for any purpose under this section.

49 USC 5340 - Apportionments based on growing States and high density States formula factors

(a) Definition.— 
In this section, the term State shall mean each of the 50 States of the United States.
(b) Allocation.— 
Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under section 5338 (b)(2)(M), the Secretary shall apportion
(1) 50 percent to States and urbanized areas in accordance with subsection (c); and
(2) 50 percent to States and urbanized areas in accordance with subsection (d).
(c) Growing State Apportionments.— 

(1) Apportionment among states.— 
The amounts apportioned under subsection (b)(1) shall provide each State with an amount equal to the total amount apportioned multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of that State forecast for the year that is 15 years after the most recent decennial census, divided by the total population of all States forecast for the year that is 15 years after the most recent decennial census. Such forecast shall be based on the population trend for each State between the most recent decennial census and the most recent estimate of population made by the Secretary of Commerce.
(2) Apportionments between urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas in each state.— 

(A) In general.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts to each State under paragraph (1) so that urbanized areas in that State receive an amount equal to the amount apportioned to that State multiplied by a ratio equal to the sum of the forecast population of all urbanized areas in that State divided by the total forecast population of that State. In making the apportionment under this subparagraph, the Secretary shall utilize any available forecasts made by the State. If no forecasts are available, the Secretary shall utilize data on urbanized areas and total population from the most recent decennial census.
(B) Remaining amounts.— 
Amounts remaining for each State after apportionment under subparagraph (A) shall be apportioned to that State and added to the amount made available for grants under section 5311.
(3) Apportionments among urbanized areas in each state.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available to urbanized areas in each State under paragraph (2)(A) so that each urbanized area receives an amount equal to the amount apportioned under paragraph (2)(A) multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of each urbanized area divided by the sum of populations of all urbanized areas in the State. Amounts apportioned to each urbanized area shall be added to amounts apportioned to that urbanized area under section 5336, and made available for grants under section 5307.
(d) High Density State Apportionments.— 
Amounts to be apportioned under subsection (b)(2) shall be apportioned as follows:
(1) Eligible states.— 
The Secretary shall designate as eligible for an apportionment under this subsection all States with a population density in excess of 370 persons per square mile.
(2) State urbanized land factor.— 
For each State qualifying for an apportionment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall calculate an amount equal to
(A) the total land area of the State (in square miles); multiplied by
(B) 370; multiplied by
(C) 
(i) the population of the State in urbanized areas; divided by
(ii) the total population of the State.
(3) State apportionment factor.— 
For each State qualifying for an apportionment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall calculate an amount equal to the difference between the total population of the State less the amount calculated in paragraph (2).
(4) State apportionment.— 
Each State qualifying for an apportionment under paragraph (1) shall receive an amount equal to the amount to be apportioned under this subsection multiplied by the amount calculated for the State under paragraph (3) divided by the sum of the amounts calculated under paragraph (3) for all States qualifying for an apportionment under paragraph (1).
(5) Apportionments among urbanized areas in each state.— 
The Secretary shall apportion amounts made available to each State under paragraph (4) so that each urbanized area receives an amount equal to the amount apportioned under paragraph (4) multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of each urbanized area divided by the sum of populations of all urbanized areas in the State. Amounts apportioned to each urbanized area shall be added to amounts apportioned to that urbanized area under section 5336, and made available for grants under section 5307.