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Council of University Cou c o U e s tyTransportation Centers (CUTC)
2010 Summer Meeting0 0 Su e ee gJarrett StoltzfusUniversity Transportation Center Liaison Office of Resea ch Demonst ation and Inno ationOffice of Research, Demonstration and InnovationFederal Transit AdministrationUS Department of Transportation
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College Station, TXJune 7, 2010
Introduction
Jarrett Stoltzfus
Liaison to the University Transportation Center program
Office of Research, Demonstration and InnovationF d l T it Ad i i t tiFederal Transit AdministrationUS Department of [email protected]
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Overview
• Introduction to the Federal Transit Administration
• The University Transportation Center Program• The University Transportation Center Program
• Federal Transportation Policy Shifts and Priorities
C ll b i O i i i h FTA• Collaborative Opportunities with FTA
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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• FTA is one of ten agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation
• FY10 budget: roughly 10 billion dollars• Staff: roughly 500 full time employees• Staff: roughly 500 full-time employees
– 300 in Washington, DC– 200 in 10 regional offices
FTA’s Roles
• Supports a variety of locally planned, constructed, and operated public transportation systems
• “Transit” typically includes buses subways • Transit typically includes buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, streetcars, monorail, passenger ferry boats, inclined railways, and
i l taerial trams• Other parts of USDOT handle other
transportation modestransportation modes– Freight/Intercity Passenger Rail (Federal Railroad
Administration - FRA)– Air (Federal Aviation Administration – FAA)( )– Road (Federal Highway Administration – FHWA)
FTA’s Roles
• Primarily a grant-making agency• Major grant programs to transit agencies,
metropolitan planning organizations, state DOTs and other entities as well as DOTs, and other entities as well as universities.
• Universities supported both by the University Transportation Center program through RITA Transportation Center program through RITA and directly by FTA
• FTA has provided $7 million to the UTC p $program annually over the last several years.
• Many other universities the recipients of FTA research or training grantsresearch or training grants.
FTA’ R l
• Capital Investment Grants (roughly 1 6 billion/year)
FTA’s Roles
• Capital Investment Grants (roughly 1.6 billion/year)– Competitive and discretionary program– Funds commuter rail, light rail, heavy rail, and bus rapid transit.– FTA is involved in planning and environmental review as well as p g
funding. – Recent examples include:
• Eastside Gold Line extension, (Los Angeles)• Link Light Rail (Seattle)• Link Light Rail (Seattle)• BART extension to San Francisco Airport
(Bay Area)
Other Roles
• Formula Grants (roughly 8 billion/year)– Grants to support capital and operating investments
(buses, rail vehicles, transit facilities) to transit agencies and metropolitan agencies, and other entitiesentities.
• Research– Grants for research that supports transit industry needs
such as vehicle technologies and workforce developmentsuch as vehicle technologies and workforce development
• Safety/Security Support• Civil Rights Compliance
Titl VI – Title VI – Americans with Disability Act
• Other activities supporting the transit industry
Current FTA Priorities
• Priority #1: Invest in the Economy• Priority #2: Improving Surface
Transportation Safety• Priority #3: Livable and Sustainable • Priority #3: Livable and Sustainable
Communities• Priority #4: Reduction in GHG y
Emissions
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Current FTA Priorities• Invest in the Economy
– Continue efforts to put people back to work and reinvigorate the economy
– Make sure there is high quality, reliable transportation
– Renew and restore transportation infrastructure
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Current FTA Priorities
• Improving Surface Transportation Safety
– Continues to be one of the Department’s highest priorities
– Concerted efforts to improve safety are needed in all surface transportation modes
– Focus on data-driven, performance-oriented safety programs
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Current FTA Priorities
• Livable and Sustainable Communities
– Identify policy options to improve livability
Make s e polic is consistent ith go e nment ide – Make sure policy is consistent with government-wide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change.
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Current FTA Priorities
• Reduction in GHG Emissions
– Identify new opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through research and grant programs like TIGGER that s ppo t inno ati e p actices at t ansit TIGGER that support innovative practices at transit agencies.
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Livable & SustainableLivable & SustainableCommunities Initiative
“Enhance the economic and social well being of all Americans by creating and Enhance the economic and social well being of all Americans by creating and maintaining a safe, reliable, integrated and accessible transportation network
that enhances choices for transportation users, provides easy access to employment opportunities and other destinations, and promotes positive effects
on the surrounding community.”
Under the Initiative, Federal policy will enable communities to:
• Provide more transportation choicesProvide more transportation choices• Promote equitable and affordable housing• Enhance economic competitiveness• Target resources to existing communities• Target resources to existing communities• Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investments• Value unique characteristics of communities, no matter their
size
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FTA Involvement in the Livable and FTA Involvement in the Livable and Sustainable Communities Initiative
• FTA supports livability and sustainability• FTA supports livability and sustainability• As the agency that supports mass transit, FTA is well-
positioned to be a leader in the Livable and Sustainable Communities InitiativeAll f FTA’ k t h th li bilit f • All of FTA’s programs work to enhance the livability of communities by providing transportation options for communities across the country
• FTA’s grant programs provide flexibility for communities to FTA s grant programs provide flexibility for communities to make investments in transit as part of multimodal transportation networks– Improved facilities for walking and bicycling– TOD– TOD
• FTA’s support of livable and sustainable communities also helps encourage the growth of green jobs.
www.fta.dot.gov/livability/16
FTA and the University Transportation Center FTA and the University Transportation Center program
FTA views the University Transportation Center program as an significant asset to the transportation industrytransportation industry– Critical mass of transit and transportation research
expertise for the industryUTC bl ti b t i iti – UTCs enable connections between universities, transit agencies, state departments of transportation, and other entitiesUTC ll t d t th i l l iti– UTCs well connected to their local communities
– Important avenue for getting students interested in transit and transportation as a career
Building Partnerships with FTA
• New Administration Priorities – Building the Economy– Safety– Livability– Environmental Sustainability– State of Good Repair / Asset Management– Other issues
• FTA interested and able to offering guidance staff expertise, and connections to UTCs interested in pursuing efforts in public p g ptransportation
• Opportunity to build long-term partnerships with FTAwith FTA
How FTA Can Help Support You
FTA wants to support you in whatever way possible!
• Find me during the CUTC Summer Meeting if you are interested in • Find me during the CUTC Summer Meeting, if you are interested in working further with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
– Guidance or direction in pursuing transit or p gtransportation research
– Building connections with subject matter experts at FTA– Seeking better connections/partnerships with transit Seeking better connections/partnerships with transit
agencies or other transit-related entities– Other opportunities with FTA
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Upcoming Opportunities
• Planning a one-day event to bring together FTA staff and University Transportation Centers in fall 2010 – please stay tuned!
• Continue to monitor www grants gov for • Continue to monitor www.grants.gov for opportunities to come as well.
Questions?Questions?
Please feel free to contact me at:202-493-0361202 493 0361
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