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| 20.515 STATE PLANNING AND RESEARCH |
| (State Planning and Research Program) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| 49 U.S.C. 5304. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To assist in the development of cost effective multimodal transportation improvement programs which include the planning, engineering, and designing of Federal Transit projects, and other technical studies in a program for a unified and officially coordinated Statewide Transportation system. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Formula Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| This is a consolidated program which is apportioned to the States under 49 U.S.C., Chapter 53 which includes such activities as planning, technical studies and assistance, innovative demonstrations, management training, and cooperative research. In addition, a State may authorize a portion of these funds to be used to supplement and administer Metropolitan Planning funds allocated by the State to its urbanized areas, as the State deems appropriate. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Apportionments are made to the States. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Apportionments are made to the States. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Federal Register Notice, "FTA Fiscal Year 2008 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information", published annually, contains the State apportionment in Table 2. For fiscal year 2008, the publication date was January 28, 2008. For other fiscal years, contact the FTA Regional Office or refer to the FTA web site to obtain the publication dates. The FTA website is: www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants_financing_38.html.htm. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." A sub-recipient 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 Procedure |
| FTA Circular 8200.1 dated December 27, 2001, Program Guidance and Application Instructions for State Planning and Research Program Grants" provides detailed application information. It is available at www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4124.html. |
| Award Procedure |
| If the application is complete, FTA will approve and release the grant. |
| Deadlines |
| Applications may be submitted throughout the fiscal year. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| If completed applications are submitted to FTA no later than the first business day of the quarter, FTA will then award grants no later than the last business day of the quarter. In FY 04, FTA awarded State Planning and Research Program grants in an average of 9 days of submission of a completer application. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Grants may be amended to add additional funds. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| The matching requirements vary. Funds obligated for State or metropolitan planning are granted as an 80 percent Federal, 20 percent local ratio. In addition, current year funds can be transferred from the Federal Highway Administration to form State Consolidated Planning Grants. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| Reports |
| (1) Progress reports; (2) Financial report upon completion of the project; and (3) Final technical study report (if applicable). |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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 |
| Project sponsor is required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of the final financial status report pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents. |
| Account Identification |
| 69-1137-0-1-401; 69-8350-0-7-401. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 est $19,991,000; FY 08 est $15,467,000; and est FY 09 $20,875,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $45,000 to $1,000,000 plus per State based on a statutory formula. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Block grant funds to States for projects they identify to accomplish statewide planning and research. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Federal Register Notice, "FTA Fiscal Year 2008 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information", published annually, contains the State apportionment in Table 2. For fiscal year 2008, the publication date was January 28, 2008. For other fiscal years, contact the FTA Regional Office or consult the FTA web site to obtain the publication dates. The FTA website is: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants_financing_38.html. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of Federal Transit Administration regional offices. |
| Headquarters Office |
| FTA Office of Planning and Environment (TPE-10), Candace Noonan, Telephone: (202) 366-1648, Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20590. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.fta.dot.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction; 20.500, Federal Transit_Capital Investment Grants; 20.502, Federal Transit Grants for University Research and Training; 20.507, Federal Transit_Formula Grants; 20.505, Federal Transit_Metropolitan Planning Grants; 20.514, Public Transportation Research. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| California did a study of performance measures for small and rural transit. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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