TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Moving Americans into the 21st Century
	Fact Sheet
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RURAL TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM
Year	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Authorization	0	0	$2M	$3.7M	$4.7M	$6.95M	$6.95M

Program Purpose

This new program will assist in financing the incremental capital and training costs associated with implementing the Department's Final Rule on accessibility requirements for Over-The-Road-Buses (OTRBs). USDOT issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on March 25, 1998 describing the proposed method for implementing this requirement, with a final rule issued later in 1998. The reauthorization language adopts the definition of OTRBs used in the ADA. The OTRB rule is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). [3038]

Funding Features

Funded from both the Mass Transit Account and General Funds.

Establishes a 50% Federal share of the costs of a project needed to comply with the ADA Final Rule for OTRB transportation.

Grantee Selection

Establishes a competitive process for selection of grantees under this program.

The Department will conduct a national solicitation for grant applications.

Various factors will be considered when selecting grantees, including—

• the identified need for service

• acquisition of required equipment ahead of required timeframes

• financial capacity

• service impacts in rural areas and for low-income individuals

Applies the same terms and conditions as those applied to subrecipients under 49 USC §5311(f), the intercity bus provision of FTA's non-urbanized area formula program.

Use of Funds

Creates separate programs and funding levels for—

• Intercity, Fixed-Route OTRB Service - $17.5 million in FY 1999 through 2003

• Other OTRB Service (essentially charter/tour operators) - $6.8 million in FY 2000 through 2003

September 14, 1998