BATON ROUGE, La. – The Department of Transportation and Development announced today that public bodies and local organizations may apply for funding available through the Federal Transportation Administration’s grant programs. All minority transportation organizations are encouraged to apply. The grant programs available are:
- Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program (5316) was established to address the unique transportation challenges faced by welfare recipients and low-income persons seeking to obtain and maintain employment. The Job Access Reverse Commute Program provides 50% federal funds for operating assistance. Contact Program Manager Karen Harris for more information at (225) 379-3058, or at karen.harris@la.gov.
- Rural Transit Assistance Program (5311) provides a source of funding to assist in the design and implementation of training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the needs of transit operators in nonurbanized areas. The Rural Program provides 50% federal funds for operating and 80% federal funds for capital assistance. Contact Program Manager Jamie Ainsworth for more information at (225) 379-3063, or at jamie.ainsworth@la.gov.
- Intercity Bus Program, Section 5311(f) provides a source of funding to support the connection between two or more urban areas not in close proximity including rural areas and the larger regional or national system of intercity bus service; to support service to meet the intercity travel needs of residents in rural areas; and to support the infrastructure of the intercity bus network through planning and marketing assistance and capital investment and facilities. Applications are being accepted for intercity bus projects with priority given to service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans including stops in rural areas. The Section 5311 (f) provides 50% federal funds for operating assistance and 80% federal funds for capital assistance. You may contact the Program Manager, Mr. Casey Lewis for more information at (225) 379-3054, casey.lewis@la.gov.
- Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Program (5310) provides formula funding to states for the purpose of capital assistance to private non-profit groups and certain public entities in meeting the transportation needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities when the transportation service provided are unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate in meeting these needs. The Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Program provides 80% federal funds for capital assistance and 50% federal funds for operating assistance. Contact Program Manager Tina Athalone for more information at (225) 379-3062, or at tina.athalone@la.gov.
You may apply online at our website: http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Multimodal/transit/Pages/default.aspx after November 17, 2014 through the Louisiana Transit Electronic Application Management system (LATEAM). Intercity Bus applications – Section 5311(f) are available only on our website to download. For any questions you may call the DOTD-Public Transportation Section at (225) 379-3060. Electronic applications must be submitted by February 1, 2015. The Intercity Bus Program application should be submitted to the address below by February 2, 2015:
LA Department of Transportation & Development
Public Transportation/Section 81, East Wing 5th floor
1201 Capitol Access
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802