7/8/2019

WASHINGTON - Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams recently announced that FTA will begin discussions with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) regarding participation in the Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program.

"Cutting red tape and delivering infrastructure projects more rapidly is a key priority for the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation," said Williams. "We are happy to announce that FTA is pursuing an agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II project."

The Pilot Program is aimed at expediting delivery of new fixed guideway capital projects, small starts projects, or core capacity improvement projects that utilize public-private partnerships, are planned to 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.

It is also aimed at increasing innovation, improving efficiency and timeliness of project delivery, and encouraging new revenue streams.

In September 2018, FTA announced it was accepting expressions of interest from transit project sponsors for the Pilot Program. FTA stated in its Federal Register Notice that it would evaluate submissions and work with sponsors of selected projects to further define the steps in law required before a construction grant agreement could be awarded.

The law allows the award of up to eight grant agreements under the program. FTA received expressions of interest from four agencies for seven projects.

"While FTA is initiating more detailed discussions with VTA, we are continuing to work with the other project sponsors as their projects’ may become ready for an agreement under the program," Williams said.

Through Fiscal Year 2019, Congress has appropriated $125 million for the Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program.

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