Raleigh-Cary Section 5310 Call for Projects Open February 27 - March 24
The 2023 Section 5310 Call for Projects is now open. GoRaleigh and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) are accepting applications from February 27 - March 24, 2023 for the 2023 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (49 USC Section 5310), or Section 5310 Program, for the Raleigh-Cary Urban Area. The Section 5310 Program provides grants to assist non-profit organizations, private operators, and public agencies providing coordinated transportation services that are planned, designed, and carried out to meet the mobility needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
As the designated recipient for this federal funding for the Raleigh-Cary area, GoRaleigh is facilitating the Call for Projects application process for the available funding. GoRaleigh works with CAMPO to deliver the Section 5310 program. CAMPO will be reviewing the Section 5310 grant applications and approving the awards which will be submitted by GoRaleigh to the FTA for funding.
Currently, there is $2,272,632 in available funding. This includes additional COVID relief grant funds from the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act that are available along with Section 5310 funds for the current grant cycle. These funds may have lower match requirements for applications selected to receive funds from these sources. Applicants must be prepared to meet the full Section 5310 match requirements.
The 2023 Call for Projects provides funding for eligible applicants for projects that are scheduled to occur within a two-year period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2025. Interested applicants should review the
Organizations may apply by reviewing the 5310 Program Management Plan (the “PMP”), ensuring the
Application submittals must be received no later than 5:00 PM (EST) on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Application Resources:
This is the most convenient method and is preferred. Once you have your application material text ready, click on this link and fill in the form to submit your application.
Grant Application Webinar:
Interested parties were invited to attend the virtual workshop held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Recorded Webinar:
Interested applicants are encouraged to view the webinar recording prior to submitting their application. The webinar provides a guided tutorial of the essential information to help applicants fulfill all the requirements necessary. The webinar recording will be available until March 24, 2023, when the 2023 Call for Projects will close.
Section 5310 Program and Eligibility Requirements
Section 5310 funds can be used for capital and operating expenses to support non-profit organizations, private operators, and public agencies providing transportation services to meet the specific needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Requirements are further detailed in the Section 5310 Program Management Plan (PMP). All projects must either have their origin or destination within the Raleigh-Cary Urban Area to qualify for Section 5310 Urban Area funds; an origin or destination in a rural area is permitted as long as either the origin or destination occurs within the urban area.
At least 55 percent of the funds given annually (“apportioned”) to any rural, small urbanized, or large urbanized area must be used for public transportation capital projects that are planned, designed, and carried out to meet the specific needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. These are referred to as “traditional capital projects.” Elderly persons and persons with disabilities must be the primary benefactors of the proposed projects to qualify for Section 5310 project funds; simply benefitting these groups among others is not sufficient.
Eligible projects for the required 55 percent of traditional capital projects include the capital cost of contracting for transit services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities and other specialized shared-ride transportation services. Buying rolling stock for or acquiring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit service may also both qualify as eligible capital expenses when public transportation is insufficient, unavailable, or inappropriate, provided these projects are carried out by eligible subrecipients and these projects are included in the area’s Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan. Refer to Section 7.1 - Traditional Capital Expenses of the PMP for details.
In addition to the required minimum 55 percent of traditional capital projects, up to 45 percent of an area’s apportionment may be utilized for additional public transportation projects that accomplish one or more of the following:
a. Exceed the ADA minimum requirements,
b. Improve access to fixed-route service and decrease reliance by persons with disabilities on ADA-complementary paratransit service, or
c. Provide alternatives to public transportation that assist elderly persons and persons with disabilities with transportation.
While the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) encourages traditional capital projects that are also open to the public as a means of avoiding unnecessary segregation of services, the 5310 funds will only be allocated for projects that meet the specific needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities to be eligible. Refer to section 7 - Eligible Projects in the PMP for further details.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Janice Copeland
Fiscal Analyst
City of Raleigh
Department of Transportation – Transit
4101 Poole Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(o) 919-996-5009
janice.copeland@raleighnc.gov