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United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program - Section 3005(b)

What's New

On July 28, 2020, FTA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for The Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until up to eight grants are awarded and subject to funding availability.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, FTA hosted a webinar to provide information on the EPD Pilot Program.

View the presentation | Listen to the recording | Read the transcript

Overview

The EPD Pilot Program, authorized by Section 3005(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), is aimed at expediting delivery of new fixed guideway capital projects, small starts projects, or core capacity improvement projects. These projects must utilize public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a Federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost. FTA will notify applicants in writing within 120 days after the receipt of a complete application whether the application has been approved.

Applicants must use the EPD Pilot Program application.

Objectives

The EPD Pilot Program streamlines project delivery of new transit infrastructure that meets program requirements. It encourages innovative partnerships and funding so projects can be completed more quickly.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects are new fixed guideway capital projects, small start projects, or core capacity improvement projects that have not entered into a full funding grant agreement with FTA. The law defines these types of eligible projects for the EPD Pilot Program in a manner similar to, but not entirely the same as, FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. Applicants should therefore read the NOFO carefully to understand the EPD Pilot Program project eligibility. New fixed guideway capital projects or small start projects may include the acquisition of real property, the initial acquisition of rolling stock for the system, the acquisition of right-of-way, and relocation. Core capacity improvement projects may include the acquisition of real property, the acquisition of rights-of-way, double tracking, signalization improvements, electrification, expanding system platforms, acquisition of rolling stock associated with corridor improvements increasing capacity, construction of infill stations, and such other capacity improvements as FTA determines are appropriate to increase the capacity of an existing fixed guideway system corridor by not less than 10 percent.

Eligible Recipients

State or local government authorities who must demonstrate:

  • Legal, financial, and technical capacities to carry out the eligible project, including the safety and security aspects of the eligible project;
  • Satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities;
  • The technical and financial capacity to maintain new and existing equipment and facilities;
  • That they have qualified advisors providing guidance on the terms and structure of the project who are independent from investors in the project; and
  • That the existing public transportation system is in a state of good repair.
    • This requirement may be waived by FTA if the project meets the definition of a core capacity improvement project, and FTA determines that the eligible project will allow the applicant to make substantial progress in achieving a state of good repair.

Statutory References

Section 3005(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).

Allocation of Funding

A total of $225 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, FY 2019, FY 2017 and FY 2016 funds are available, of which $100 million is currently available for allocation. On August 28, 2019, FTA announced the allocation of $125 million under the EPD Pilot Program to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II project. Any project sponsor that receives or has already received an allocation of EPD funds must still submit the formal application outlined in the NOFO to receive the grant.

Match

The federal share of project costs under this program is limited to 25 percent.

Grant Type: Competitive