Fiscal Year 2009: A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published January 23, 2009 to announce the availability of FY 2009 funds . The project selections from that NOFA were announced in the Federal Register notice on May 10, 2010 and 46 projects were selected for funding. Fiscal Year 2010: A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published May 13, 2010 to announce the availability of FY 2010 funds . Applications are currently being solicited until June 28th, 2010. Selections are expected by October 2010. Fiscal Year 2011: Not Available.

Uses and Use Restrictions

A qualified project is a planning or capital project in or in the vicinity of a Federally-owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public and meets the goals of the program.

Project evaluation will be based on the considerations listed in the law and explained in part 180 of this notice.

The following types of projects are eligible:

(1) Planning Projects: Activities to comply with metropolitan and statewide planning provisions.

(49 U.S.C.

5320(b)(5)(A) referencing 49 U.S.C.

5303, 5304, and 5305).

Activities include planning studies for an alternative transportation system including evaluation of no-build and all other reasonable alternatives, traffic studies, visitor utilization studies, transportation analysis, feasibility studies, and environmental studies.

(2) Capital projects for ""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; (49 U.S.C.

5320(b)(5)(A) referencing 49 U.S.C.

5302(a)(1)(A).)

(3) Fixed Guideway and Bus Projects: (i) New fixed guideway capital projects 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; (ii) Capital projects to modernize existing fixed guideway systems; (iii) 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 non-profit organizations; and (iv) The development of corridors to support new fixed guideway capital projects, 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.

(49 U.S.C.

5320(b)(5)(A) referencing 49 U.S.C.

5309(b).)

(4) Purchase of rolling stock that incorporates clean fuel technology or the replacement of buses of a type in use on August 10, 2005, with clean fuel vehicles;

(5) The deployment of alternative transportation vehicles that introduce innovative technologies or methods;

(6) The capital costs of coordinating Federal land management agency public transportation systems with other public transportation systems;

(7) Non-motorized transportation systems (including the provision of facilities for pedestrians, bicycles and non-motorized watercraft); and

(8) Any other alternative transportation project that:
- Enhances the environment;
- Prevents or mitigates an adverse impact on a natural resource;
- Improves Federal land management agency resource management; Improves visitor mobility and accessibility and the visitor experience;
- Reduces congestion and pollution (including noise pollution and visual pollution); or
- Conserves a natural, historical, or cultural resource (excluding rehabilitation or restoration of a nontransportation facility).

No more than 15% of program funds may be used for project administration, contingency and oversight.

As stated above, only planning and implementation projects that involve alternative transportation may receive funds.

Funds must be spent in accordance with the details of the grant application.

All program funds are awarded under a competitive, discretionary grant program.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are:(1) The following Federal land management agencies: The National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land management, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation; and (2) State, tribal and local governments with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area acting with the consent of a Federal land management agency, alone or in partnership with a Federal land management agency or other governmental or non-governmental participant.

Beneficiary Eligibility

None.

Credentials/Documentation

Any project sponsor must be acting with the consent of a Federal land management agency. Any project proposed must be consistent with the metropolitan and statewide planning and public participation requirements found in 49 U.S.C 5303, 5304, and 5307(d). If the project is an "capital project" in contrast with a "planning project," the capital project must be in the metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) or State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), or, if selected, will not receive funds until it is incorporated into the TIP or STIP. Projects also must be consistent with Federal land management agency plans. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The program allows the Department of Transportation to spend up to 10 percent of program funds to carry out planning, research and technical assistance activities.

Funds allocated to technical assistance will be used to assist program participants in planning, implementing, and evaluating alternative transportation projects.

In addition, the Federal Transit Administration will provide planning guidance and will disseminate research findings.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Project proposals must be submitted to the FTA online via the GRANTS.GOV website. In order to use GRANTS.GOV, applicants must first register as users with GRANTS.GOV. The project proposal must be attached to the application submitted online, and must be 12 or fewer pages in length at 10 point font or larger. If a proposal is greater than 12 pages, only the first 12 pages will be considered during the evaluation process. If applicants would like to apply for funds appropriated for future fiscal years, applicants must reapply each year.

Award Procedures

Proposals will first be collected by the FTA and uploaded into a structured evaluation system and evaluated by an interagency team which includes representatives from FTA, each of the Federal land management agencies, and the Department of the Interior.

After evaluating the projects on the basis of criteria in the law and further explained in Section 180 of this program description, the team will provide a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with and in cooperation with the Secretary of Transportation, will determine the final selection and amount of funding for each project.. The Department of the Interior will notify each Federal land management agency of projects awarded for sites under the agency s jurisdiction. FTA will publish the list of all selected projects and funding levels in the Federal Register.

Once proposals have been reviewed and projects have been chosen on the basis of selection criteria, the cognizant Federal agency (or agencies), will award funds to the proposing entity to implement the project. These funds will be administered according to Federal requirements as well as the appropriate policies, guidelines and rules of the pertinent agencies. For projects directly administered by a Federal land management agency, these funds will be administered by interagency agreement between the FTA and the respective agency. For programs administered by a State, tribal, or local Governmental authority, these funds will be administered through a grant administered by FTA. With regard to interagency agreement and grant requirements, 49 U.S.C. 5320(i) authorizes the Secretary to apply the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grant) and 5333(a) (Prevailing Wages Requirement) ""to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate.

Additionally, each recipient (Federal land management agency, and State, tribal, and local governments) of Federal funds must comply with requisite Federal guidelines governing the management of Federal funds and specific program requirements. Program Oversight, as defined by FTA, will ensure that projects meet the basic statutory, administrative, and regulatory requirements as stipulated by the conditions for accepting Federal funds.


After evaluating the projects on the basis of criteria in the law and further explained in Section 180 of this program description, the team will provide a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with and in cooperation with the Secretary of Transportation, will determine the final selection and amount of funding for each project.. The Department of the Interior will notify each Federal land management agency of projects awarded for sites under the agency s jurisdiction. FTA will publish the list of all selected projects and funding levels in the Federal Register, as well as in FTA s annual report to Congress on the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands program submitted as part of FTA s Annual Report on New Starts in early February 2008. Criteria and application procedures may be reassessed for subsequent years.

Once proposals have been reviewed and projects have been chosen on the basis of selection criteria, the cognizant Federal agency (or agencies), will award funds to the proposing entity to implement the project. These funds will be administered according to Federal requirements as well as the appropriate policies, guidelines and rules of the pertinent agencies. For projects directly administered by a Federal land management agency, these funds will be administered by interagency agreement between the FTA and the respective agency. For programs administered by a State, tribal, or local Governmental authority, these funds will be administered through a grant administered by FTA. With regard to interagency agreement and grant requirements, 49 U.S.C. 5320(i) authorizes the Secretary to apply the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grant) and 5333(a) (Prevailing Wages Requirement) ""to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate.

Additionally, each recipient (Federal land management agency, and State, tribal, and local governments) of Federal funds must comply with requisite Federal guidelines governing the management of Federal funds and specific program requirements. Program Oversight, as defined by FTA, will ensure that projects meet the basic statutory, administrative, and regulatory requirements as stipulated by the conditions for accepting Federal funds.

Deadlines

Jun 21, 2010 to Jun 28, 2010 For Fiscal Year 2010, the application deadline is June 28, 2010.

Authorization

Section 3021 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) enacted August 10, 2005 [Public Law 109-59], established a new program called the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands program. The name of the program was changed to the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks under the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act, 2008. , 49 U.S.C 5320.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

> 180 Days. The Department of the Transportation plans to announce the projects selected no later than Octiober 1, 2010.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements. This program has no statutory formula. The Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the Secretary of Interior will establish the Government s share of the net project cost to be provided. Funds appropriated to any Federal land management agency may be counted toward the remainder of the net project cost. The maximum Federal share may be 100 percent.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funding will be provided on an annual basis. Funds awarded do not have an established date of expiration. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The Secretary of Transportation in consultation with the Secretary of Interior submits annually a report to Congress on the allocation of amounts made available to assist qualified projects.

Also, a similar report must be included by the Secretary of Transportation in its Annual Report on New Starts.

Requirements regarding reports to be prepared by the program recipient will be published in the Federal Register in the announcement of program awards.

In 2009 this entailed the submission of quarterly reports to the FTA containing a narrative description of the project and a discussion of all budget and schedule changes.

In addition, annual reports were required that must include: 1.

Annual visitation to the land unit, 2.

Annual number of persons who use the alternative transportation system, 3.

An estimate of the number of vehicle trips mitigated based on alternative transportation system usage and the typical number of passengers per vehicle, 4.

Cost per passenger, and 5.

Anote of any special services offered for those systems with higher costs per passenger but more amenities.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipient is required to retain intact, for three years following submission of the final expenditure report, all contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents.

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8350-0-1-407.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 09 $11,748,000; FY 10 est $36,776,019; FY 11 est $43,956,799

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No one project may receive more than 25 percent of funds.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Guidance is included with each Federal Register notice that announces project selections. Program requirements, additional guidance and legislation information can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Information and assistance in applying can be aquired for the headquarters office of the Federal land management agency that manages the park or public land involved. The required project proposal template is available at http:// www.fta.dot.gov.

-National Park Service: Kevin Percival, Kevin.Percival@nps.gov, tel: 303-969-2429, fax: 303-987-6675, mail: 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287.

- Fish and Wildlife Service: Nathan Caldwell, nathan.caldwell@fws.gov, tel:703-358-2376, fax: 703-358-2517,mail: 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 634; Arlington, VA 22203.

- Forest Service: Ellen LaFayette, elafayette@fs.fed.us, tel: 703-605-4509, fax: 703-605-1542, mail: 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1101.

- Bureau of Land Management: Linda Force, Linda_Force@blm.gov, tel: 202- 557-3567, fax: 202-452-5046, mail: 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.

Headquarters Office

Adam Schildge 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: Adam.Schildge@dot.gov Phone: 202-366-0778

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Consistent with the considerations identified in Title 49, Chapter 53 at Section 5320(g)(2), evaluation of proposals will be based on the following criteria:

- Demonstration of need
o Documentation of problem in plans and other reports
o Severity of problem

- Protection of natural and cultural resources
o Protection or improvement of cultural, historical, scenic, and natural resources
o Environmental benefits-reduction of pollution (including air pollution, noise pollution, and visual pollution)

- Operational efficiency and financial sustainability
o Evaluation of costs and benefits of all reasonable alternatives
o Financial planning (including for capital, operations, maintenance, and equipment replacement expenses; and revenues, including user fees)
o Cost effectiveness
o Innovative financing or joint development strategies
o Deferred maintenance issues

- Public benefits
o Enhancing visitor experience
o Mobility issues (reduces congestion, improves intermodal connectivity, improves public access, including access for persons with disabilities)
o Safety
o Partnership with public and private entities, and benefits to gateway communities.

- Additional consideration will be given to projects based upon geographic diversity, balance between urban and rural projects, and balance in size of projects. Finally, projects that demonstrate innovative funding mechanisms or partnerships will be given extra consideration. The proposal template contains specific questions related to each of these criteria to guide the applicant in justifying the project.