Eligible Projects
Services and programs that utilize Section 5310 funding must be designed to meet the specific needs of older adults and people with disabilities, including:
- Public transportation projects planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities when public transportation is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable
- Public transportation projects that exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
- Public transportation projects that improve access to fixed-route service and decrease reliance on complementary paratransit; and
- Alternatives to public transportation projects that assist seniors and individuals with disabilities with transportation.
- Other types of individuals may use Section 5310 services, but those services must be designed, planned, and implemented to address the specific needs of older adults and people with disabilities, not merely to serve those rider groups along with others.
Projects should fall within the following categories:
- Vehicles
- Mobility Management
- Other Capital (Software/Hardware/Facilities/Shop Equipment/Pedestrian Improvements)
- Operating
Local Funding Requirements
FTA requires a state/local match to access federal funds. Capital projects are funded at an 80 percent federal share with a 20 percent state or local match. and is matched with at least a 50 percent state or local share. MDOT typically provides the match required to access federal capital funds; this is subject to change at any time by MDOT, in which case the subrecipient would be responsible for providing the local match (or would forfeit its awarded funds). The match required to access operating funds is provided by a local share. Subrecipients are responsible for providing a 50 percent non-federal share of operating assistance projects.
Project Selection Criteria
The project selection committee will evaluate applications from potential sub-recipients using the following criteria and scoring system:
Need and Benefits (maximum 45 points)
- Consistency with and support for needs, strategies, and solutions identified in the regional Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan (CHSTP)
- Extent to which the project eliminates transportation barriers or improves mobility for older adults and people with disabilities
- Extent to which the project provides additional benefits or addresses the needs of target groups
- Vehicle useful life exceeded in miles and years (current thresholds will be provided)
- Vehicle useful life greatly exceeds the threshold (current thresholds will be provided)
- Amount of unspent 5310 funds greater than two years old
- Utilization of existing 5310 services (ridership, vehicle miles, or hours)
Coordination and Partnerships (maximum 20 points)
- Extent to which the project utilizes or coordinates with existing public transportation providers or non-profit organizations, or other partner agencies
- Extent to which the applicant’s current vehicles or services are used to provide coordinated services and/or shared with another agency’s clients
- Extent to which the project contributes to the development of coordinated transportation services in the region
- Extent of local support (for example, the role of local organizations in the proposed project, letters of support, results of public outreach, overmatch of local share)
Project Readiness (maximum 35 points)
For sub-recipients: A letter of commitment from a direct recipient that states that they will act as a pass-thru for federal funds. Direct recipients are AAATA, DDOT, DTC, RTA, and SMART.
- Reasonableness and completeness of the applicant’s financial plan
- Project sustainability beyond the grant period
- Reasonableness and completeness of the project implementation plan and schedule
- Experience the applicant has that demonstrates ability to execute the type of transportation project listed in the application
- Demonstration of the applicant’s technical capacity
- Number of years the agency has provided transportation services
- Number of projects the agency has carried out that are similar to the project listed
Highly Competitive Projects (maximum 10 extra points)
- Joint application submitted by more than one sub-recipient
- Vehicle sharing between organizations
- Purchase of service from an existing sub-recipient
- New or innovative program or service applications addresses multiple needs, strategies, or solutions identified in the regional CHSTP
