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Hello and Happy New Year. This newsletter features news and updates from FTA. I hope you will find these useful as a quick reference to what is happening at FTA. Our goal is to reduce the number of ad hoc notices we send you, although you may continue to get other notices from us on timely issues.
We look forward to continuing to assist all of you in making the best of your transit investments this year.
David Beckhouse,
Acting Regional Administrator
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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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In Region 8, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation will receive an FTA Tribal Transit grant to expand its transit operations, including the addition of vehicles for new routes and weekend hours to ensure continued transit services for tribal members in northeastern South Dakota. This project will help maintain access to healthcare and educational opportunities in and around the reservation.
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Triennial Review Workshop: Region 8 will host the annual Triennial Review Workshop next week -- January 22-23 -- in downtown Denver. Registration for the in-person workshop has closed. However, we will also offer virtual workshops, which will cover the same material, with varying dates and times. You are welcome to register for as many virtual sessions as you like and have multiple staff from your agency attend. Schedule and registration information: COMING SOON.
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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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New Teammates: Region 8 is pleased to announce we have four new team members who joined our team in the new year! We welcome:
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Sara Westendorf, Administrative Assistant
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Edward Coviello, Team Lead, Planning
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Katherine Strozinski, Team Lead, Capital Projects
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Annette McKelvey, Team Lead, Program Management
You may see Sara’s name when we send future email notices or hear her name when you call our office. Our new Team Leaders will be working closely with all the Region 8 staff as we work on your plans, grants and projects going forward. We hope to introduce everyone further in the coming weeks.
Annual Kick-off Meetings: It is a new year and that means it is time for our annual kick-off meetings! Region 8 grant managers will be setting appointments with all our direct recipients to discuss a variety of topics in preparation for the FY25 grant year. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
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Colorado’s Pitkin County received $2 million to establish plans for the transformation of the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport into a mobility hub that integrates with the regional transportation network.
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority in Glenwood Springs, Colorado received just over $1 million to fund the development of a locally preferred alternative for extending the State Highway 82 VelociRFTA bus rapid transit lane on a new alignment through Glenwood Springs to the Interstate 70 corridor.
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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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Contact Information:
1961 Stout Street
Suite 13-301
Denver, CO 80294
Region 8 | FTA
Business Hours:
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MT, M-F.
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Regional Phone: 303-362-2400 |
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