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Overview
The objective of the Alternatives Analysis program (49 U.S.C. 5339) is to assist in financing the evaluation of all reasonable modal and multimodal alternatives and general alignment options for identified transportation needs in a particular, broadly defined travel corridor. The transportation planning process of Alternatives Analysis:
- includes an assessment of a wide range of public transportation or multimodal alternatives, which will address transportation problems within a corridor or subarea;
- provides ample information to enable the Secretary to make the findings of project justification and local financial commitment;
- supports the selection of a locally preferred alternative; and
- enables the local Metropolitan Planning Organization to adopt the locally preferred alternative as part of the long-range transportation plan.
Funds may be used to assist State and local governmental authorities in conducting alternatives analyses when at least one of the alternatives is a new new fixed guideway systems or an extensions to an existing fixed guideway system.
Eligible applicants include public agencies, including States; municipalities and other subdivisions of States; public agencies and instrumentalities of one or more States; and public corporations, boards, and commissions established under State law. Applicant must have legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out proposed project and maintain facilities and equipment purchased with Federal assistance. Private non-profit organizations are not directly eligible recipients. Grant requirements under this program are comparable to those for section 5309 grants.
Funds for Alternatives Analysis projects are allocated based on statutory or discretionary basis. A grant may be made up to 80 percent of net project cost. Funding is available for a total of three years (year of appropriation plus two years).
When project funds are allocated by Congress for specific projects, applications are made to the regional offices of the Federal Transit Administration. If discretionary funds are available for competitive award, applications for and notification of the grant program will be made available at http://www.grants.gov/.
Related Links and Resources
A list of project allocations can be found in the annual Federal Register Notices located at http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_federal_register.html. Grant opportunities can be found at http://www.grants.gov/.
- Federal Register 8/22/07 - Announcement of Project Selections for FY 2007 Discretionary Programs [HTML] [PDF]
- Federal Register 3/23/07 - Notice of Funding Availability; Alternatives Analysis Discretionary Program [HTML] [PDF]
Contact Information
• For additional information about the Alternatives Analysis Program earmarks, contact the FTA Office of Program Management: (202) 366-2053
• For additional information about the Alternatives Analysis Program requirements, contact FTA Office of Planning & Environment: (202) 366-2360
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