Emergency Relief Program Regulations & Guidance
FTA’s Emergency Relief program, established under MAP-21 legislation, enables FTA to provide assistance to public transit operators in the aftermath of an emergency or major disaster.
FTA’s Emergency Relief Manual & Program Guidance
On October 5, 2015, FTA published its final Emergency Relief Manual: A Reference Manual for States & Transit Agencies on Response and Recovery from Declared Disasters and FTA’s Emergency Relief Program (49 U.S.C. 5324). Visit the Federal Register Notice: Emergency Relief Program: Proposed Guidance.
This manual provides guidance on FTA's Emergency Relief (ER) Program and is intended for states and transit agencies that may be affected by a declared emergency or disaster and may seek funding under FTA's ER Program. In addition to guidance on the ER Program, this document provides information on other disaster relief resources available through FTA and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The manual also contains a discussion of recommended practices for disaster preparation and frequently asked questions relating to disaster recovery.
This Emergency Relief Manual revises and replaces FTA’s handbook Response and Recovery from Declared Emergencies and Disasters: A Reference for Transit Agencies, and includes responses to public comments received on the draft manual published in January 2015.
Emergency Relief Program Regulation
The Emergency Relief Program Regulation Final Rule (October 7, 2014) guides the implementation of FTA’s Emergency Relief Program.