Program Description All localities that operate public transportation services are encouraged to undertake additional capital improvements which are designed specifically to improve the use of their services by the disabled Proposed improvements which are found to be reasonable and appropriate by VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board will receive state funding at the maximum state participation ratio (95 percent of the non-federal share). All other state public transportation capital grants receives funding at a lower participation ratio which varies from year to year. The current (FY89) state participation ratio for public transportation capital grants is 75 percent. Proposed improvements must be related directly to passenger services for the disabled and only those services operated with rubber-tired vehicles are eligible. Accessibility to rail transit service is already required by federal regulations and building codes governing architectural barriers. Examples of eligible improvements include: the purchase and installation of wheelchair lifts lifts on buses, trolleys, and vans; the purchase of vans used for the transportation of the disabled by the public transportation operator or through a service contract between the transit operator and a third party; and the purchase and installation of telecommunications equipment for the deaf, braille signing or transit schedule printing, or on-board audio equipment for announcing destinations and stop locations. The incentive grants are awarded as part of the state public transportation capital assistance program and drawn from the same fund. Therefore, the Commonwealth Transportation Board has retained the right to limit the amount of funds that a recipient can receive in a single year. No limit was imposed in Fiscal Year 1989. Capital Incentive Grants for Fiscal Year 1989 During the first year (FY89) of the Capital Incentive Program, thirteen Virginia transit systems received funding. Table 1 provides a list and description of the projects funded in the first year of the program. The estimated total cost of the projects is $1,782,500. The table presents the total amount of each incentive grant including a breakdown of federal transit aid, state aid and local match. The amount of state funds awarded under the incentive program totaled $590,378. The following equipment will be purchased through these grants: thirty-two wheelchair lifts for transit coaches, three wheelchair lifts for trolleys, four body-on-chassis vehicles with wheelchair lifts, and thirtyeight vans with wheelchair lifts. Arlington County received state aid funds of $42,750 under the incentive program to help purchase wheelchair lifts for three new trolley buses. Arlington County began operating the Crystal City Trolley service in 1987 with two trolleys and a lift-equipped van. The county will purchase three trolleys with wheelchair lifts to continue this service. The service is operated by a private for profit operator. The Tidewater Transportation District Commission (TTDC) through the Tidewater Regional Transit (TRT) operates a special transportation service for its transportation for the disabled. TRT operates forty-one vehicles under this service. TTDC received funding under the incentive program to help purchase seventeen vans (fifteen with lifts) and three small buses for specialized services. These vehicles will replace old, worn out equipment. TTDC received $85,500 in state aid for the fifteen vans with wheelchair lifts and $142,500 in state aid for the three small buses and two vans. The se grants together total $228,000. The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) received state financial incentive funds of $20,663 to help purchase wheelchair lifts for twenty-nine new buses. These buses will be used in GRTC's fixed route service. The Peninsula Transportation District Commission received $134,463 from the incentive program to help purchase seven vans with lifts for its special service and a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD). The seven vans with lifts will replace other worn out vans. The TDD system will be used to provide route and scheduling information for the hearing impaired. The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GTC) received $7,600 from the incentive program to help purchase on body-on-chassis vehicle with a lift for special services. Due to expected increases in demand, an additional liftequipped vehicle is needed for this service. The City of Petersburg received $45,600 to help purchase two vans with lifts for its specialized service. Petersburg plans to lease these vehicles to provide its special service. The City of Charlottesville will purchase one van with a lift for special services. They received $23,750 in state incentive funds. This vehicle will be leased to another operator to provide Charlottesville's special service. The Central Piedmont Action Council (CPAC) in Cumberland, Virginia, received funds to help purchase a van for special service. The van replaces another van whose useful life has expired. CPAC received $4,560 in state aid. District III Governmental Cooperative in Marion, Virginia, received $20,672 in state aid from the incentive program to help purchase four vans and one body-on-chassis vehicle with a lift for special services. The vehicles will be used to replace worn out equipment and to serve the increased demand for service. The City of Harrisonburg received state aid of $7,600 to help purchase a body-on-chassis vehicle with a lift for its special service. The vehicle will be used for a new route to support the growth of James Madison University. Jefferson Area United Transportation, Inc. (JAUNT) received $26,790 in state aid funding from the incentive program to purchase four vans with lifts and a body-on-chassis vehicle with a lift for special service. The four vans will replace worn out equipment. The body-on-chassis vehicle will allow JAUNT, Inc. to expand their rural service. The City of Winchester was granted $5,130 in state aid to help purchase a van with a lift for its special services. This vehicle will allow Winchester to provide on-call transportation services for the disabled. Tazewell County received $22,800 in state aid from the incentive program. This will allow this rural county to begin a special demand responsive service for the disabled. Program Outlook for Fiscal Year 1990 In a survey of Virginia's transit operators conducted in September of 1988, VDOT requested a preliminary preview of the requests for Fiscal Year 1990 grants under the program. Eighteen of Virginia's thirty-one public transportation systems indicated that they anticipated submitting a grant application under the incentive program for the coming fiscal year. The anticipated total cost of the proposed improvements is expected to be $1,640,000, and a total of $543,400 in state capital assistance will be required to fund these incentive grants. |