Mass Transit: FTA Needs to Better Define and Assess Impact of Certain Policies on New Starts Program
GAO-04-748
Published: Jun 25, 2004. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2004.
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Highlights
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and subsequent legislation authorized about $8.3 billion in guaranteed funding for the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) New Starts program, which funds fixed guideway transit projects, such as rail and trolley projects, through FFGAs. GAO assessed the New Starts process for the fiscal year 2005 cycle. GAO identified (1) the number of projects that were evaluated, rated, and proposed for new FFGAs and how recent changes to the process were reflected in ratings; (2) the proposed funding commitments in the administration's budget request and legislative reauthorization proposals; and (3) the extent to which amounts appropriated since 1998 fulfilled FFGAs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | To ensure that FTA's New Starts evaluation process and policies are objective, transparent, and comply with federal statute, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FTA, to clearly explain the basis on which it decides which projects will be recommended for funding outside of FFGAs, such as projects considered to be meritorious, and what projects must do to qualify for such a recommendation. These explanations should be included in FTA's annual New Starts report and other published New Starts guidance. |
Closed – Implemented
In its Annual Report on New Starts (February 2005), FTA clearly articulated the criteria used to identify projects that are eligible for funding outside of FFGAs. In particular, FTA said eligible projects: 1) are rated "recommended" or higher, 2) do not have a "low" cost-effectiveness rating, and 3) are currently in final design or expect to be in final design in early calendar year 2005.
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| Department of Transportation | To ensure that FTA's New Starts evaluation process and policies are objective, transparent, and comply with federal statute, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FTA, to examine the impact of its preference policy on projects currently in the evaluation process, as well as projects in the early planning stages, and examine whether its policy results in maximizing New Starts funds and local participation. |
Closed – Not Implemented
SAFETEA-LU prohibited FTA from requiring a non-federal match of more than 20 percent. Therefore, FTA discontinued its preference policy. FTA, however, continues to encourage project sponsors to request the lowest New Starts share possible given the overall demand for limited federal funding.
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