U.S. DOT Announces Additional Administrative Relief for Transit Agencies

On December 11, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced additional actions to improve access to grant funding and provide relief from certain regulatory and administrative requirements. FTA has extended the eligibility for formula funding—including Section 5311 Formula Grants for Rural Areas—under the Emergency Relief Program to be used to pay for operating expenses. Funding may now cover operating expenses related to COVID-19 recovery through January 20, 2022 at 100-percent federal share. Visit FTA’s COVID-19 FAQ page for details.

Rural Transit Planning Webinar for COVID and Beyond

The National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) will host a January 14 webinar at 2pm ET on adapting transit during the pandemic by retiming and fine tuning routes and schedules as well as adjusting demand response services. The webinar will include rural transit planning basics and best practices. Register.

FTA COVID-19 Listening Session on Changing Rider Needs    

The Federal Transit Administration held a December 15 COVID-19 Recovery Listening Session on Understanding and Addressing Changing Rider Needs, including how agencies are planning and delivering transit service during the pandemic. A copy of the presentation is available at the FTA website.