Transit grants : need for improved predictability, data, and monitoring in application processing

80705545375234PDFResearch Paperhttp://ntl.bts.gov/lib/11000/11300/11327/rc00260.pdfGAO/RCED-00-260Public transitGrant aidGovernment fundingFederal aidPlanningMonitoringApplicationsUnited StatesUnited States. General Accounting OfficeUnited States. General Accounting OfficeNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Transit Planning and PolicyNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-FundingNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-Transit Economics and FinanceBTS Data DirectoryThe Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides states, local and regional transportation providers, and others with grants for the construction, acquisition, improvement, and operation of transit systems and projects through a variety of programs. TEA-21 authorized about $42 billion for transit programs for fiscal years 1998 through 2003. Currently, FTA oversees about 4,400 active grants to 860 stateand local transit providers. From October 1, 1998, through June 30, 2000, FTA processed approximately 1,800 transit grant applications representing over $10.5 billion in federal funds. FTA is responsible for reviewing grant applications to determine the merits of proposed projects and their eligibility for federal assistance. FTA carriesout its mission through 10 regional offices, and its regional staff are the main point of contact for almost all grants. Applications for grants are submitted through FTA's Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) database to applicable regional offices. FTA's regional offices are generally responsible for ensuring that each grant applicant has responded to a variety of required certifications and assurances before FTA can provide funds