Are paratransit providers required to solicit participation by the public and persons with disabilities in the initial development and continued provision of paratransit services?

Yes, under Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.137, an entity developing a paratransit plan must ensure public participation through outreach, consultation with individuals with disabilities, opportunity for public comment...

How are the operating hours of complementary paratransit service determined?

Under Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.131(e), complementary paratransit service must be available during the same days and hours that fixed route service operates. Thus, if an individual can travel from a given origin...

Are public transit agencies operating a fixed route system required to provide complementary paratransit services?

Yes, under Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.121(a), “each public entity operating a fixed route system shall provide paratransit or other special service to individuals with disabilities that is comparable to the level...

Does FTA provide funding to help people purchase adaptive vans for personal use that are capable of carrying wheelchairs?

No. FTA grant programs provide Federal financial assistance to public transit operators. Funding for private individuals may be available through State vocational rehabilitation programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or other individual funding sources. Many automobile manufacturers also...

May a transit agency require a paratransit applicant to pay for rides to and from an assessment center for a paratransit eligibility evaluation?

No, under Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.5(d), an entity may not impose special charges, not authorized by this part, on individuals with disabilities for providing services required by this part or otherwise necessary...

If an applicant can include sub-grantee projects in a single application, can a discrete amount of funding for the sub-grantee's initiative be flexed to FRA? Or would any project that requires flexing funds need to be an independent application?

In accordance with the answer to the previous question, if a portion of funds are awarded for a project component that must be undertaken by an intercity passenger rail operator, those funds may be transferred to FRA for administration. If such a proposal is submitted as a single project, the...

In what context does Force Account apply: the normal work force or the work force during the disaster or a combination? Also, what does "budgeted" mean in the context of the Force Account: normal or emergency or both?

It is reasonable to expect that transit agencies used (and continue to use) their own staff for response and recovery work. Agencies may have ongoing recovery work for which they continue to use their own forces, as opposed to contractors. Any hurricane response/recovery work done by your staff...

Will other agencies be able to view my agency’s information in TrAMS?

Yes. Similar to TEAM, other agencies may view your information only if your agency agreed to grant that agency access to your organization’s content.

State Safety Oversight Program Certification FAQs

If my project received less funding than requested, may I still pursue the full scope of the project?

Yes, however FTA will only participate in the scope of the project that was funded in the award announcement. In most cases, this scope corresponds with a proposed “scaled” option for the project. Other sources of funding would be required for the other elements of the project. If you are unsure...