VT-2022-001

VTRANS received FFY21 Section 5311 CRRSAA apportionment of $26,725,119. This application is requesting to use $12,135,910 at 100% federal for eligible expenses for SFY22. The remaining apportionment balance of $14,589,209 will be applied to SFY23 eligible program expenses in a future grant application.

Purpose:
This application utilizes CRRSAA funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This application for Section 5311 CRRSAA funds is for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the designated recipient. We received $13,407,895 million of FFY2020 Section 5311 CARES Act funds allocated directly to Vermont for expenses related to COVID-19 that were applied by VTRANS and our sub-recipients to SFY20 and SFY21 program costs. VTRANS also received $7,112,714 in ARPA funds that VTRANS is applying to program costs for SFY22. The ARPA funding will be insufficient to cover all SFY22 eligible program costs, and we are requesting to apply our CRRSAA apportionment to cover the remaining program costs for SFY22. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively affect transit operations. Vermont sub-recipients have increased driver wages and hiring incentives in an effort to attract new commercial drivers into the workforce. Vermont, as is the case nationally, is experiencing CDL driver shortages as a result of the tight labor market. Vermont and the sub-recipients continue to maintain stringent COVID-19 safety measures, including safety barriers between seats and driver compartments, deep sanitization of capital vehicles, and purchasing personal protective equipment.

Activities to be performed:
Operating expenses for the following sub-recipients:
- Tri Valley Transit (TVT): 100% federal operating expenses; administrative expenses; preventative maintenance; special services administration expenses
- Advance Transit (AT): 100% federal operating expenses
- Southeast Vermont Transit (SEVT): 100% federal operating expenses; administrative expenses; preventative maintenance; special services administration expenses
- Green Mountain Community Network (GMCN): 100% federal operating expenses; administrative expenses; preventative maintenance; special services administration expenses
- Green Mountain Transit Rural (GMT): 100% federal preventive maintenance; and special services administration expenses
- Marble Valley Regional Transit District (MVRTD): 100% federal preventive maintenance; special services administration
- Regional Community Transit (RCT): 100% federal operating expenses; administrative expenses; preventative maintenance; special services administration expenses
- Vermont Public Transportation Association (VPTA): 100% federal administrative expenses

In accordance with FTA's Circulars 9040.1G and 9030.1E, preventive maintenance and administrative activities are considered operating costs. Per CRRSAA, this grant requests 100% federal share, and the activities in this application are not required to be programmed in the long-range transportation plan or statewide transportation improvement program.

Expected outcomes:
The CRRSAA funding allows VTRANS to fund program costs at 100% federal, reducing the local match burden to the federal sub-recipients. It also allows for continued support for expenses related to COVID-19. The CRRSAA funding will provide operating assistance and support to public transportation in rural and urbanized areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations.

Intended beneficiaries:
The intended beneficiaries are the federal sub-recipients and the riding public. The CRRSAA funding helps Vermont to maintain safe, reliable, friendly, and accessible public transit services for all Vermonters. Vermont providers continue to maintain safety protocols on their buses, transit centers, administrative facilities, bus stops, and shelters in an effort to maintain and improve the riding public's confidence in public transit in the wake of some difficult times as a result of the recent pandemic. VTRANS and the Vermont transit providers continue to aggressively advertise the benefits and safety of public transit.

Subrecipient activities:
VTRANS competitively selected the following sub-recipients to execute the activities in this grant: Advance Transit (AT), Green Mountain Transit (GMT), Marble Valley Regional Transit District (MVRTD), Vermont Public Transportation Association (VPTA), Regional Community Transit (RCT), Tri Valley Transit (TVT), Green Mountain Community Network (GMCN), and Southeast Vermont Transit (SEVT). Service types included fixed route, deviated fixed route, commuter, and demand response. VTRANS is charged with managing all modes of transportation in Vermont and is authorized to do so under legislation Title 25 5094. VTRANS has oversight responsibility for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Aviation Section, Rail Program, and all aspects of highways and bridges.

VTRANS agrees that if it receives federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or through a pass-through entity through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, a different federal agency, or insurance proceeds for any portion of a project activity approved for FTA funding under this grant agreement, it will provide written notification to FTA and reimburse FTA for any federal share that duplicates funding provided by FEMA, another federal agency, or an insurance company.

Vermont Agency Of Transportation

NOT APPLICABLE

20.509 - Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program

FTA Region 1 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Vermont United States

State-Wide

NOT APPLICABLE

COVID-19 $26,725,119 (100%) percent of this Formula Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/23 to 06/30/28 and the total obligations have increased 136% from $12,135,910 to $28,595,790.