In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced additional actions to improve access to grant funding and provide relief from certain regulatory and administrative requirements.
Specifically, FTA says it will extend access to emergency relief funding for operations and allow more time for transit agencies to meet regulatory requirements for the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP), Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) regulations, as well as several reporting and compliance reviews.
"We understand that many transit agencies are experiencing disruptions to normal operating procedures during the COVID-19 public health emergency," FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams said in a statement. "FTA is taking these actions to ensure transit agencies can continue to prioritize their resources toward ensuring the safety of their employees and riders during this time."
FTA has extended the eligibility for formula funding under the Emergency Relief Program to be used to pay for operating expenses. Funding may now cover operating expenses related to COVID-19 recovery through January 20, 2022 at 100% federal share. FTA also issued two Notices of Enforcement Discretion to advise FTA grantees that it will refrain from taking enforcement action regarding the PTASP and PTSCTP regulations through July 20, 2021 and August 20, 2022, respectively.
FTA previously announced a first round of administrative relief actions earlier this year, including expanding the federal government's share of operating expenses and other COVID-19 related expenses to 100%.
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SOURCE: Federal Transit Administration
