Action
Notice.
Summary
This Notice announces the availability of the remaining fiscal year 1998 funding for the Federal transit programs that was not available previously due to the lack of a full year authorization of the transit program. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), signed into law by President Clinton on June 9, 1998, provides a six-year reauthorization of the Federal transit program and the necessary contract authority needed to fully fund the fiscal year 1998 obligation limitations contained in the fiscal year 1998 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act. In addition to announcing the remaining fiscal year funding, this Notice also revises the apportionment of funding for the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program in compliance with new provisions which require a one percent set-aside for transit enhancements, and $4,849,950 to be set aside for financing the Alaska Railroad. Additionally, this Notice revises the apportionment of funds for the Section 5309 Fixed Guideway Modernization Program to reflect the new allocation formula established in TEA-21. It also revises the Section 5309 Bus Allocations to comply with new provisions in TEA-21 to fund a Bus Test Facility in the amount of $3,000,000 and a Fuel Cell Bus Program in the amount of $4,850,000 in fiscal year 1998. These two programs were not provided for in the original Bus Allocations. This Notice updates and expands on the December 5, 1997, Federal Register Notice entitled ``FTA Fiscal Year 1998 Apportionments, Allocations and Program Information.'' It also contains information regarding the changes made by TEA-21 to the various Federal transit programs, as well as the FTA policy on pre-award authority and other new program information. The new programs are the Clean Fuels Formula Program, the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program, the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility program, the Single State Pilot Program for Intercity Rail Infrastructure Investment, and the State Infrastructure Banks Pilot Program. The funding level for the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program is subject to a pending technical correction bill which would decrease the $6.8 million a year for operators of other over-the-road service to a total of $6.8 million for the four years, 2000-2003.