Grant Management

The Urbanized Area Assistance Program is a formula grant program from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) also known as Section 5307. These formula grants are utilized to support the development, maintenance and improvement of public transportation in areas with a population greater than 50,000.

Annually, the FTA distributes funds based on a population ratio and are allocated to communities upon governor approval. In Wyoming, only Casper and Cheyenne are eligible for this program. In Wyoming, the transit providers are either directly or indirectly under management of their city government.

§ 5307 funds may be used for administrative, operations and capital costs within the transit program. Administrative costs are eligible for an 80 percent federal share and include salaries for project director, secretary and bookkeeper, office supplies and marketing costs. Operations costs are eligible for 50 percent federal share and include costs of driver's salaries, mechanic and dispatcher salaries as well as fuel, oil and replacement tire costs. Capital costs are eligible for 80 percent federal share and include vehicle purchase, facility construction and other categories as defined by the FTA.

Contact information:

WYDOT does not manage the § 5307 Program. For information about the transit programs in Cheyenne and Casper, please contact: 

Purpose: Provide a state funding source for public transit vehicle acquisitions

Overview: Wyoming’s Transportation Enterprise Fund is administered by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB). Applications are submitted annually and are reviewed by the SLIB staff, along with recommendations from WYDOT– LGC—Transit staff. Project recommendations are developed with assistance of WYDOT—LGC’s Transit Vehicle Inventory Database.

Background: The Transportation Enterprise Fund was enacted into law by the 1999 Wyoming State Legislature. Annual interest income from the Transportation Trust Fund, along with any program carry-over provides the corpus of the fund.

Program Features:

· Applications are solicited annually from public entities and private non-profit organizations providing “public transportation” in Wyoming. WYDOT may be requested to review applications and submits comments to the State Loan and Investment Board.

· With more than 40 public transit providers, demand for new vehicles typically exceeds the availability of Transportation Enterprise funds. In times of higher interest rates for the Trust Fund, more capital funds are available in the Enterprise Fund.

· WYDOT LGC staff leverages FTA Section 5310 funding with Transportation Enterprise Funds to achieve a more desirable funding match for the applicants.

· Vehicle types have varied, but range from large 40 passenger coaches to minivans.

· Additional information may be found at the Office of State Lands & Investment Web page.

Purpose: Each state is required to allocate a minimum of at least 15 percent of its annual 5311 (rural transit ) apportionment for development and support of intercity transportation.

Overview:  In Wyoming, intercity bus service provides a vital link between otherwise isolated rural and small urban communities and the rest of the state, and to nearby urban areas. One objective of funding for intercity bus service is to support the connection between nonurbanized areas and the larger regional or national system of intercity bus service. Another objective is to support services to meet the intercity travel needs of residents in non-urbanized areas. A third objective is to support the infrastructure of the intercity bus network through planning and marketing assistance and capital investment in facilities.

Program Features & Facts:

· Eligible activities include operating grants through purchase-of-service agreements, planning and marketing for intercity bus transportation, capital grants for intercity bus shelters, joint-use stops and depots, coordination of rural connections between small transit operators and intercity bus carriers.

· Wyoming’s fastest growing demand for intercity bus funding has proven to be the non-emergency medical field, especially for persons requiring dialysis treatment. Most communities located near the state’s borders are utilizing funds to transport people to large medical centers in border states.

Purpose: This program provides funding for grants and contracts for research, technical assistance, training and related support services for rural transit programs. Allocation of federal funds for RTAP occurs annually in conjunction with rural transit program funds.

Overview: RTAP funds are annually allocated to WYDOT and contracted out with WYTRANS, the statewide organization of community transit providers, to provide training, technical assistance, drug and alcohol testing program administration and to print and distribute the newsletter “Transit Express.”

Features & Facts

· RTAP provides funding for grants and contracts for research, technical assistance, training and related support services for rural transit.

· WYDOT contracts the majority of these funds to WYTRANS for training, publication of the newsletters and administrative costs incurred through administration of the statewide drug and alcohol program.

Purpose: 

·To enhance the access of public transportation on and around Indian reservations in nonurbanized areas to health care, shopping, education, employment, public services, and recreation.

· It also can assist in the maintenance, development, improvement and use of public transportation systems in rural and small urban areas.

· This funding also is meant to encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all Federal funds used to provide passenger transportation in non-urbanized areas through the coordination of programs and services.

· To provide for the participation of private transportation providers in nonurbanized transportation to the maximum extent feasible.

Program Features & Facts:

· Federally-recognized Indian tribes are eligible direct recipients.

· Recipients tribes may use these funds for any purpose that is eligible under the FTA Section 5311 program

· Eligible purposes include: planning, capital, administration and operating assistance for rural public transit services, and support of rural intercity bus service.

· No match is required for this program funding.