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As we begin 2025, I must reflect on all the projects and additional funding that improved transit in our communities. From the groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings, and the 160 grant awards that came to $2 billion in new funding, these were remarkable accomplishments we achieved collectively.
Our Regional Office welcomed new team members highlighted in this publication. We added a new Financial Management Office and director for enhanced stewardship and introduced a new director in our DC Metro Office.
With our Planning & Program Development and Oversight & Program Management Offices, we stand ready to support you. The Office of the Regional Administrator is also poised to support our stakeholders.
Region 3 serves Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, with 72 recipients and a total financial portfolio of approximately $14.6 billion. Our philosophy centers on providing stellar customer service through technical assistance and overall support.
Further, our mission focuses on enhancing the quality of life in our region through efficient transit program delivery and stewardship. Region 3’s vision is to be a collaborative, premier regional office guiding and overseeing federally funded transportation investments. Our core values are to be accountable, professional, demonstrate integrity and foster collaboration.
All of us in Region 3, are dedicated to helping you improve transportation services and construct transit projects that create legacies and major transformations for your communities.
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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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Triennial Review Workshop
Region 3 is pleased to announce that we will hold an in-person Triennial Review Workshop in Philadelphia on January 22-23 at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District. Registration is now live at Philadelphia Workshop.
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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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Region 3 has welcomed the following new staff since January of 2024:
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Kellie Bellina, Grants Management Specialist. Kellie joins us from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
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Alessandra Case, Grants Management Specialist. Alessandra joins us from the State of New Jersey, Department of Community Affairs.
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Melanie Haake, Grants Management Specialist Melanie joins us from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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Debra Lytle, Grants Management Specialist Debra joins us from AmeriCorps.
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Daniel Sommerville, Lead Community Planner. Dan joins us from the City of Philadelphia Streets Department.
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Maureen McCoy, Environmental Protection Specialist. Maureen joins us from ICF Consulting.
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Patricia Smith, Civil Rights Officer- Regions II and III. Patti joins us from Guidehouse Consulting.
Region 3 also promoted the following individuals into Team Lead positions:
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Adams Grimes, Transportation Program Specialist, Team Lead
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Jason Yucis, Financial Analyst, Team Lead
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Ron Shatz, General Engineer, Team Lead
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Ben Stoltenberg, Transportation Program Specialist, Team Lead
Stay tuned for a new staff assignment listing. With new hires joining us, here is an opportunity to review staff assignments who support our recipients. Region 3 plans to send out a notification soon.
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Congratulations to Montgomery County, MD, which will receive $24.8 million to create a new entrance at its North Bethesda Metro Station. In addition, the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Public Transit will receive $489,750 to map and inventory the location and features of all fixed route transit stops in the state.
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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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Tony Cho
Director, Office of Program Management and Project Oversight
How would you explain your job to someone you’ve never met? I work for a federal agency that provides substantial grant funding, program oversight and guidance for public transit throughout the country. My job is to provide oversight and guidance to the transit agencies to ensure that the federal dollars are spent appropriately and that the public’s experience with transit is as positive as possible.
What excites you most about your job? I am so grateful that I get to work in a field that I am passionate about and with a wonderful team. In the FTA Region 3 Office, I get to directly help our recipients with any problems they may have on a day-to-day basis and see how our program directly helps the riding public and their communities. As a supervisor, I love working with staff and talking to them about their careers and work/life balance. Recruiting new staff and building our team for the future is particularly rewarding, to know that I am helping people advance their careers and make a lasting impact on how the region will operate for the foreseeable future.
What were you doing prior to this role? Prior to becoming the Oversight Director in 2016, I was a Community Planner in FTA Region 3 for 10 years. Before joining FTA Region 3, I started my career at FTA Headquarters in the Office of Budget and Policy, Office of Policy Review and Development, working on Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) implementation.
What’s the one recommendation you would make to new professionals getting started in the transit industry? Transit is such a broad, complex field that you never stop learning. I recommend finding something that you are passionate about, but do not hesitate to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new, to get a broader perspective of the industry.
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Contact Information:
FTA Region 3 Office
1835 Market Street, Suite 1910
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Region 3 | FTA
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Regional Phone: (215) 656-7100 |
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