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| Volume 18, Issue 2 | Spring 2006 |
SAFETEA-LU: An OverviewThe Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Equitable, Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) provides several opportunities for enhancing transportation services for human service transportation.
Specifically, the Elderly and Individuals with Disability Program (Section 5310) supports capital purchases (i.e. vehicles) primarily for non-profit organizations offering transportation for people with disabilities and older adults. The Job Access Reverse Commute Program is targeted to enhance access to employment and employment related activities for people with lower incomes. The program also supports reverse commute; for example, from the city out to the suburbs or from outlying areas into the city or suburbs regardless of income level. The New Freedom Program is a new program in SAFETEA-LU. It builds on the broader New Freedom Initiative, which is intended to build integrated participation in the community for people with disabilities. This program provides funding to support "new public transportation" and alternatives to public transportation beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act. There are several new requirements for each of these three programs including the development of a local coordinated public-human service transportation plan. SAFETEA-LU also includes the ability to utilize other (non-DOT) funding for local and state match in each of these programs and the option to use up to 10% for administrative purposes. SAFETEA-LU also includes an increase in funding for the non-urbanized (Section 5311) program. This formula program increases from $251 million in fiscal year 2005 to $448 million in fiscal year 2006 and continues to grow over the life of the program. The 5311 program also includes a new activity that provides grants directly to Indian tribes for public transportation services on Indian reservations. For additional information, visit the SAFETEA-LU Implementation section located on the FTA website: www.fta.dot.gov UWR Coordinated Planning Grant Melissa SchofieldSouth Dakota DOT Bruce Lindholm, Program Manager for the Office of Local Transportation Programs in the SDDOT has been notified that South Dakota will receive a United We Ride (UWR) Coordination Planning Grant in the amount of $35,000. The funding is awarded through the Federal Transit Administration and funds must be used within one year. Our proposal met criteria for the UWR program, including plans to conduct an extensive state coordination assessment. Our office will contract with Shelly Pfaff, Executive Director for the South Dakota Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities to develop a comprehensive state action plan for coordinating human service transportation using the UWR Framework for Action. The intent of the United We Ride initiative is to breakdown barriers among Federal programs as they relate to transportation to ensure that transportation services are seamless, comprehensive, accessible and simple to access for people with disabilities, persons with lower incomes, and older adults. Our office received letters of support and commitment from Oahe, Inc., Oahe Child Development Center, Inc., South Dakota Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, the Department of Social Services - Division of Child Care Services and Adult Services and Aging, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Human Services.
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In this issue...
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SAFETEA-LU includes three specific programs targeted for people with disabilities, with lower incomes and/or older adults. These include the Elderly and Individuals with Disability Program (Section 5310), the Job Access Reverse Commute Program (Section 5316), and the New Freedom Program (Section 5317).