State transit funding is coming...are you ready?

Top 5 Things

Prepare Now to Apply for Formula Funds 

Through the passage of House Bill 2017, Keep Oregon Moving, new ongoing State funding for public transportation will be available in 2019 with the first applications due in 2018. The Oregon Department of Transportation wants transit providers to be prepared for this funding opportunity. Here are the top five things transit managers, local government administrators, elected officials, Tribes, and other transit providers should do now to prepare to apply for Statewide Transportation Improvement Funds (STIF).

1. Determine whether your agency is eligible, and learn how much funding your agency may receive. Qualified Entities are eligible for Formula Funds and Public Transportation Service Providers (which includes Qualified Entities) are eligible for discretionary funds. A Qualified Entity is a county in which no part of a Mass Transit District or Transportation District exists, a Mass Transit District, a Transportation District, or an Indian Tribe. A Public Transportation Service Provider is a Qualified Entity, a city, a county, a Special District, an Intergovernmental Entity, or any other political subdivision or municipal or Public Corporation that provides Public Transportation Services.
   • A map of the Qualified Entities is located in the STIF Rulemaking Document Library on the STIF web page.
   • See the Formula Fund allocation estimate, located in on the right navigation bar of the STIF web page, for potential funding amounts.

2. Know the schedule. The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) is anticipated to make a decision on the draft rules at their June 22 meeting with an effective date of July 1, 2018. Pending OTC action, the Formula Fund solicitation will be issued on August 1, 2018 with an application due date of November 1, 2018. A second opportunity to apply will be provided with an application due date of May 1, 2019. Initial STIF Formula Fund disbursements are anticipated in April 2019, pending OTC STIF Plan approval. The discretionary funding solicitation notice will occur in late 2018 with grant agreements expected to be in place by July 1, 2019.
   • The Formula Fund schedule is located on the right navigation bar of the STIF webpage.

3. Get prepared to apply by reading the draft rules to learn about funding opportunities, application and public processes, and reporting requirements. STIF rules require Qualified Entities to form local advisory committees, coordinate with area Public Transportation Service Providers, and derive projects from approved local plans, and prepare a STIF Plan detailing service improvements and outcomes for submittal to ODOT, among other responsibilities.
   • A flow chart illustrating the STIF Plan process is located on the right navigation bar of the STIF webpage.
   • A summary of the draft STIF Oregon Administrative Rules and the current draft rules are located on the right navigation bar of the ODOT STIF webpage.
     See especially the STIF Plan Content requirements (OAR 732-042-0015, page 15).

4. Develop the sub-allocation method. Qualified Entities should be working with Public Transportation Service Providers within their area of responsibility to determine the sub-allocation method to be included in the STIF Plan.
   • ODOT Formula Fund sub-allocation Guidance is located in the STIF Rulemaking Document Library on the STIF web page.

5. Form advisory committee. Qualified Entities are required to form an advisory committee to advise and assist the Qualified Entity in carrying out the purposes of the STIF and recommend prioritization of projects to be funded by STIF Formula Fund moneys received by the Qualified Entity. The draft rules include specific minimum requirements for the formation, composition and processes for advisory committees.
   • See OARs 732-040-0030, 732-040-0035, and 732-042-0020 of the draft rules, located on the right navigation bar of the STIF web page.

For More Information

• STIF web page: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RPTD/Pages/STIF.aspx
• STIF Fact Sheet is located on the right navigation bar of the STIF web page
• Sign-up to receive STIF email updates on the right navigation bar of the STIF web page

Questions?
Please contact the relevant Rail and Public Transit Division regional transit coordinator with any questions about STIF.

View the Oregon State map with regional transit coordinators here: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RPTD/RPTD%20Document%20Library/About-RTCs.pdf

Region 1 (Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah, Washington)
Jason Kelly, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office 503-731-3320 | Cell 503-798-2373
Jason.D.KELLY@odot.state.or.us

Region 2A (Clatsop, Columbia, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Yamhill)
Arla Millar, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office 503-986-3312 | Cell 503-949-5415
Arla.Miller@odot.state.or.us

Region 2B (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn)
Mark Bernard, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office 503-986-3283 | Cell 503-798-1935
Mark.Bernard@odot.state.or.us

Region 3 (Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine)
Jennifer Boardman, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office 541-774-6371 | Cell 971-701-5049
Jennifer.BOARDMAN@odot.state.or.us

Region 4 (Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler)
Theresa Conley, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office 541-388-6250 | Cell 541-514-7995
Theresa.L.CONLEY@odot.state.or.us

Region 5 (Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa)
Frank Thomas, Regional Transit Coordinator
Office (541) 963-1362 | Cell (503) 856-2757
Frank.THOMAS@odot.state.or.us