Action
Notice.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing this Notice describing the criteria it will use to evaluate candidate projects for discretionary New Starts funding under Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 5309 (formerly Section 3 of the Federal Transit Act (FT Act)). These criteria replace those which have been in force since the May 18, 1984, Statement of Policy on Major Urban Mass Transportation Capital Investments. The new criteria, together with the FTA/Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) planning regulations (23 CFR Part 450), implement the requirements of Title 49 U.S.C. Section 5309(e) (formerly Section 3(i) of the FT Act), which was modified by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. This section requires a project to be (``A) based on the results of an alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering, (B) justified based on a comprehensive review of its mobility improvements, environmental benefits, cost effectiveness, and operating efficiencies, and (C) supported by an acceptable degree of local financial commitment, including evidence of stable and dependable financial sources to construct, maintain, and operate the [project].'' This Notice sets forth the approach FTA will use to evaluate candidate projects in terms of their justification and local financial commitment. These criteria will be used to evaluate projects in order to make recommendations for funding these projects in the annual report to Congress required by 49 U.S.C. 5309(m)(3) (formerly Section 3(j) of the FT Act).