U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region IV State Programs Team

U.S. Department of TransportationFederal Transit Administration

Region IV State Programs Team

Jamie Pfister, Director of Planning and Program Development

David Schilling, Community Planner

2

•FTA Region IV

•State Programs Team– Pilot Team – Purpose and Responsibilities – Accomplishments – Pros/Cons

2

Overview

3

8 States and 2 U.S. Territories

3

FTA Region IV

4

FTA Region IV

5 5

•Pilot Team (July 2007) – Team Leader and 2 Team Members– Multi-disciplinary team (Community Planner,

Transportation Program Specialist, General Engineer)

•Current Team Members (November 2008)– James Garland: FLDOT, MDOT, NCDOT, ALDOT, ADSS– David Schilling: GDOT, GDHR, TDOT, KYTC, SCDOT,

Virgin Islands

State Programs Team

6

State Programs Team To support, promote, and enhance the State

Administered Programs in the Southeastern Region through the

following:

1. Cross-training and developing skills for both program development and management.

2. Building a more effective and interactive FTA/STATE DOT partnership.

3. Becoming a constructive and dynamic resource for program assistance to State DOTs and FTA Staff.

6

7 7

• Primary Responsibilities – Grant Development and Management – Project Planning and Management– Oversight of State DOTs - State Management

Reviews– Technical Assistance and Training– Customer Service Outreach – Responsible for several Specialized Grant Programs

State Programs Team

8 8

State Programs Team

Please rate your State DOT in the following areas

Planning 1 5 2Human Service Coordinated Transportation 1 1 6Environmental Process (NEPA) 1 3 3 1Grant Application/Grant Making Process 5 3Program Management 1 2 5Project or Construction Management 1 7State Safety Oversight 2 2 4Procurement 1 2 5Financial Management 2 3 3Congressional Earmarks 3 3 2New Transit Systems 1 2 3 2Civil Rights 1 6 1TEAM-Web Expertise 5 2 1Technical Assistance to Sub-recipients 2 6Emergency Preparedness 2 4 2Partnership with State Association 1Drug and Alcohol Compliance 1

not effective

somewhat effective

effectivevery

effective

9 9

• Needs for Technical Assistance and/or Training – Transit Facility Construction Management and Oversight– JARC/NF/5310 Program Requirements; data collection and

required oversight – State and FTA Role in Emergency Preparedness– Safety Oversight – Planning and Environment– Major Capital Investments– Grant Making Process – TEAM Training and TEAM Reporting – Grant Close-out Process– Training for New State DOT Staff

State Programs Team

10 10

– Hiring restrictions & attracting the right skill set; staff shortages

– New Transit Managers – Sub-recipient

– DOT Strategic Planning – where does transit fit in?

– Lack of State funds to utilize FTA funds

– Cash flow– Placing more emphasis on

transit planning – coordination and rural

– Rural NTD – Difficulty with Human

Service Coordinated Planning

– Initiating 5316 and 5317 Applications

– Population projections and how to meet needs over 60+

– Lack of vehicles for rural providers

– New Starts – State Process

• Issues our State DOTs indentified

State Programs Team

11

State Programs Team

• Accomplishments – Initial Assessment– Semi-annual Roundtable meetings

• Atlanta, September 2007• Charlotte, March 2008

– DOT Staff Training (ALDOT/GDOT)– State Management Reviews– New Earmark Recipient Training– Participation in Transit Association Meetings– Quarterly Meetings– Quarterly Bulletin/Newsletter

12

State Programs Team

•Pros and Cons – Regular and frequent communication– Enhanced technical assistance– Improved consistency – Customer service – Greater level of oversight*– Learning curve for FTA staff*

13

Questions?

14

Contact Information

Jamie PfisterDirector of Planning and Program

DevelopmentEmail: [email protected]

Phone: 404.865.5632

David SchillingCommunity Planner, State Programs Team

Email: [email protected]: 404.865.5645