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Welcome to our newsletter! If you are new here, we’re happy to have you join us. Our monthly newsletter serves as a platform to share updates, celebrate achievements, and provide valuable resources.
My name is Michael Culotta, and I am the Regional Administrator for FTA Region 2. I want to take a moment to thank you for your dedication to enhance the public transit systems in New York and Jersey. Together, we are working to make sure that everyone has an equal chance at getting where they need to go, regardless of how they travel and that could not be done without the commitment and collaboration of our stakeholders. You all are our partners and key to keeping the trains, buses, and ferries running.
We look forward to continuing this important work with you in the year ahead!
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According to a recent FTA report on transit trends, ridership in the United States continues to increase, growing by more than 17% nationwide from 2022 to 2023. The increase reflects more Americans choosing to take buses, subways, light rail, and other modes to travel to work, school, services, and weekend activities across the country and came as transit agencies better understood ridership needs following travel pattern changes during the pandemic. Learn more.
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The competitive grants through FTA’s Tribal Transit Program enable Tribes to buy transit vehicles, upgrade bus facilities, and expand or improve transit service. TInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes nearly $46 million in competitive funding over five years for the Tribal Transit Program, an increase of nearly 83%. Learn more. |
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This year, the updated CIG Reporting Instructions, templates, and standard cost category worksheets are being released in January, reflecting the updated CIG Policy Guidance. This week, FTA will post updated CIG reporting instructions, templates, and standard cost category worksheets on FTA’s website. These documents are updated annually by FTA and should be used by:
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Project sponsors seeking a rating for advancement into the next phase of the CIG process (Engineering or a construction grant agreement);
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Project sponsors seeking a rating at any time other than a formal approval step in the CIG process; and
- Project sponsors who wish to have their project evaluated and rated for consideration as a funding recommendation in the upcoming FY 2027 Annual Report to Congress. The due date for submittal of complete information to FTA for the FY 2027 Annual Report is Friday August 22, 2025.
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U.S. DOT’s Build America Bureau Supports Midtown Bus Terminal Modernization
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) received a $1.89 billion TIFIA loan from USDOT’s Build America Bureau to modernize the 74-year-old Midtown Bus Terminal, one of the world’s busiest bus terminals, serving 65 million annual passengers.
The loan supports the first phase of the $10 billion project, including the construction of bus storage and staging facilities, new ramps to the Lincoln Tunnel, and 3.5 acres of public green space. The new terminal will expand capacity, improve sustainability, and provide a modern, efficient transit hub to the region’s future transportation needs. Learn more.
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Congratulations to NJ TRANSIT, which received nearly $6.9 million to support the agency’s transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Build America Bureau recently announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program. Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the program offers $27 million in technical assistance grants for rural and tribal transportation project planning and design. No local funding match is required, and up to $10 million is allocated for Tribal applicants. Applications will be accepted starting Tuesday, March 4 and are due by April 3. |
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We strongly urge all grantees to upload their Authorizing Resolution and Opinion of Counsel before the March 5, 2025, deadline. On December 6, 2024, FTA’s Associate Administrator of Program Management issued a Dear Colleague letter highlighting that the following two documents must be uploaded to an agency’s profile to support verification of their legal capacity to carry out the project(s) included in federal assistance awards:
- Opinion of Counsel
- Authorizing Resolution
Beginning March 5, 2025, TrAMS will prevent any recipients that have not properly identified the Opinion of Counsel and Authorizing Resolution in their Recipient Document profile from transmitting or submitting new applications unless they have correctly labeled and/or uploaded their required legal documents.
Information on this enhancement and a short tutorial video are available on FTA’s TrAMS webpage.
Partial Year Apportionments
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We are pleased to announce that Lauren Ellmers has been selected to serve as the new Director of Planning and Program Development in FTA Region 2!
Lauren brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as the Grant Administration Manager for the Gateway Development Commission, where she secured and managed federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project. Lauren worked to secure $10 billion in funding for the project, including a $6.8 billion Capital Investment Grant — the largest award to a single project in USDOT history.
During her time at the Gateway Development Commission, Lauren established the Grants Department and developed policies and procedures for managing the grant funding. Prior to joining the Gateway Development Commission, she worked at the NYC Department of Transportation as the Assistant Director for the Federal Transit Administration Grants unit.
Please join us in welcoming Lauren to the FTA Region 2 team!
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Contact Information:
One Bowling Green
Room 429
New York, New York 10004
Region 2 | FTA
Business Hours:
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. EST, M-F.
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