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TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR OLYMPIC CITIES

Program Purpose

To provide assistance for and support of State and local efforts concerning surface transportation issues necessary to host an international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic event, or a Special Olympics International event.

Funding-Highway

Authorizations of "such sums as are necessary" from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund are provided for FYs 1998-2003. The authorizations are subject to appropriation. [1223(e), 1223(g)]

Transportation research funding authorized under section 5001(a) is available for the Secretary to provide assistance for the development of a transportation management plan in cooperation with State and local communities affected by an international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic event, or a Special Olympics International event.

TEA-21 contains one Games-related high priority project -- $3.5 million for Salt Lake’s Advanced Traffic Management Center.

Eligible Use of Funds

Authorizes the Secretary to give priority to projects relating to an international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic event, or a Special Olympics International event, if the project meets the extraordinary needs associated with such an event and is otherwise eligible for Interstate Discretionary or Bridge Discretionary funding. [1223(b)]

Allows the Secretary to provide assistance, including planning, capital, and operating assistance, to States and local governments in carrying out transportation projects relating to an international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic event, or a Special Olympics International event. The Federal share of such projects shall not exceed 80 percent. [1223(e)(1), 1223(e)(2)]]

Allows the Secretary to participate in the metropolitan and statewide planning activities of MPOs and States relating to an international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic event, or a Special Olympics International event. [1223(c)]

Funding-Transit

Authorizes General Fund appropriations, outside the guarantee, for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games for the North/South Light Rail System, the Light Rail System linking the Airport and University, intermodal passenger facilities, park and ride lots, and bus acquisition. These funds also can be used for planning and capital assistance. They are subject to a minimum of 20 percent State and local participation. For these projects, highway, aviation, and transit projects shall be considered to be a program of projects, i.e. less than a 20 percent State/local match on one project can be offset by higher State and local contributions (overmatches) on another. For these funds to become available for appropriation, Congress must find offsets from other transportation or domestic programs. [3030(c)(2)(B)]

Authorizes Salt Lake’s North/South and Airport Light Rail Projects as well as the Salt Lake-Ogden-Provo Commuter Rail project to go to final design and construction. They each will be competing with 105 other named projects for annual allocations (not counting the named set asides). [3030(a)]

Authorizes the Salt Lake City Draper and West Jordan Light Rail Extension projects to go to alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering. They will be competing with 66 other named projects. Effective October 1, 2000, Draper and West Jordan are authorized to go for final design and construction. [3030(b) ]

Utah Transit Authority is granted $3 million for intermodal facilities ($1.5 million in FYs 1999 and in 2000).The Ogden Intermodal Center receives $1.6 million ($ 800K in FY ‘99 and in 2000). UTA and Park City Transit were granted $13 million for bus acquisition. Like the light rail and commuter rail projects, sponsors can seek non-guaranteed funds or these guaranteed monies. [3031(a)]

September 14, 1998


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