Opportunities for Improving the Effectiveness of Rapid Transit Grants

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) has awarded grants for new rapid transit system equipment without having sufficient information on the reliability of that equipment. Because UMTA provides limited direction to potential grantees during its grant approval process, UMTA has approved a grant of $142 million for new cars for New York's rapid transit system without sufficient information on the reliability of that equipment, and has also approved the inclusion of automatic train control equipment not planned for in the immediate future.