Summary of FTA Provisions
New Programs
Rapid Growth Area Transit Program: By 2050, the population of the U.S. is expected to grow by an estimated 100 million people, with most of that population growth occurring in mid-sized and large urban areas. These communities need innovative solutions to cope with the challenges that accompany growth—including ways to manage congestion, sprawl, air quality, and provide affordable, efficient access to jobs and services. This new program will provide capital funds on a competitive basis to help fast-growing communities introduce new bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as part of their transportation mix. BRT systems are a proven way to expand mobility relatively quickly and affordably—helping communities to get ahead of congestion and develop a transit-oriented culture as an integral part of their growth management strategy. (Section 3011)
Local Hiring: The GROW AMERICA Act allows the use of local hiring preferences in contracts using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for projects over $10 million when the work is in an area with a low per capita income or higher than average unemployment. The Act will support local hiring as an effective tool to help men and women who are ready to work to obtain jobs, and job training, in their communities. The local-hiring preferences are designed with flexibility and as such may not require the hiring of workers without the necessary skills, and the use of such preferences may not compromise the quality, timeliness, or cost of the project. Currently, federal requirements prohibit the use of local-hiring preferences. (Section 3007)
Fixing and Accelerating Surface Transportation (FAST): The nation requires seamless, intermodal transportation networks in order to move people and goods efficiently and effectively—and achieving that goal requires improved transportation-related coordination among federal, state, and local entities. The GROW AMERICA Act will establish a $1 billion per year competitive grant program designed to incentivize State, local, and private stakeholders to demonstrate forward-leaning solutions to transportation challenges in areas such as safety, congestion management, environmental performance, or regional collaboration. Modeled after the Department of Education’s Race to the Top program—and jointly administered by the FTA and Federal Highway Administration—this program encourages the adoption of bold, innovative strategies and best practices in transportation that will have long-term impact on all projects across the transportation programs. Within the total funding provided for this program, the Secretary has discretion to set aside funds specifically for high-performing Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to effectively coordinate planning and investments in regional surface transportation priorities and projects by bringing federal and state planning organizations, tribes and decision makers together. (Section 5602)