January 2024

NEWS TO KNOW

FTA Procurement Cost and Price Analysis - Regulation and Best Practices E-Learning Course

FTA’s new Procurement Cost and Price Analysis - Regulations and Best Practices e-learning course is now available! The course provides recipients with an understanding of the fundamentals and best practices for procurement cost and price analysis. The lessons from this e-learning course can be helpful for FTA recipients in mitigating procurement findings during State Management and Triennial Reviews. This course is about 2 hours and can be accessed by clicking the following link: Procurement Cost and Price Analysis - Regulations and Best Practices e-Learning Course.

Save the Date — FTA Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference

The 17th Annual FTA Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference on Apr. 2-4 in Atlanta, GA. The location is the Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland St. NE. This three-day conference is for Drug and Alcohol Program Managers and other transit officials. The workshop will offer sessions to foster a better understanding of the FTA Prevention of Alcohol Misuse and Prohibited Drug Use in Transit Operations (49 CFR Part 655) and U.S. Department of Transportation Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs (49 CFR Part 40). This conference is free of charge and registration will open in January. More information to come!

FTA Publishes Calendar Year 2024 Drug and Alcohol Random Testing Rates

On Nov. 30, 2023, FTA published a notice in the Federal Register to announce the calendar year 2024 Drug and Alcohol Random Testing Rates for transit employers. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50% and the random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10%. FTA requires drug and alcohol testing for transit employees performing safety-sensitive functions and for employers to submit annual drug and alcohol testing reports by March 15 of each year.

Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (DMIS) Reporting Changes

On Jan. 1, U.S. DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (MIS) began utilizing Login.gov to access the DOT’s drug and alcohol MIS. For more information, please see "Change is Coming to How Users Access the DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (MIS) (govdelivery.com)." As the reporting timeframe gets closer, MoDOT will provide information to those for whom this change is applicable.

2024 Federal Transit Program Workshops - Registration is Open

This is a mandatory in-person training (no virtual option will be available) for all FTA Sections 5309, 5310, 5311 and 5339 recipients. MoDOT staff will also be attending these workshops. MoDOT engaged Milligan Consulting, LLC (Milligan) to conduct the workshops and oversight reviews. Milligan provides technical assistance throughout the review process to achieve compliance with the FTA requirements. The training addresses federal grant requirements and MoDOT’s compliance review approach.

All workshops will be held in Jefferson City, the week of Feb. 5-9. There will be five opportunities to attend the workshop. Select the one day that works best for your agency.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Each agency will be restricted to two attendees. When determining who will represent your agency, please ensure that the individual has responsibility for administering your transit program.

For example:

· Individual is responsible for managing the transportation program.

· Individual has regular interaction with the MoDOT program manager.

· Individual files required reimbursement requests and/or program reports with MoDOT.

· Individual administers program requirements, such as drug and alcohol compliance.

Where are the Workshops?

Missouri Department of Transportation

1511 Missouri Boulevard

Jefferson City, MO 65109

Muri Room

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you in February!

HOT Transit Topic - Volunteer Driver Programs

Volunteer Driver Qualifications!

Volunteer drivers can be a wonderful addition to your transportation service. They often add flexibility to service and reduce the cost of operating specialized transportation services. Maintaining a well-trained volunteer driving staff is key to the success of a volunteer driver program. Consider volunteer drivers operating within your program as “unpaid” staff. Selection and screening of applicants should follow the same system you use for paid staff. Include procedures specifically designed to attract and retain volunteers. The process starts with a Volunteer Driver Application, Private Vehicle Registration (if the volunteers will be using their own vehicles to transport passengers) and a Volunteer Driver Availability Form.

The Volunteer Driver Application should include a section for professional and/or personal references, and authorization to check driving history. Your agency should develop minimum driver qualifications, which may include:

1. The driver should be at least 21 years of age.

2. Possess a valid driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.

a. Paid or volunteer drivers are eligible to transport riders when their three-year driving history (at Department of Licensing) totals no more than four points on the rating scale.

Points	Citation	Points	Citation
1	Defective or problem equipment	3	Illegal passing
1	Not at fault accident	3	No insurance
1	No insurance in vehicle; expired insurance	3	Speeding (10 to 14 over)
1	Improper child restraint	3	Failure to appear
1	Headphones or illegal TV	3	At fault accident
1	Expired license; license not on person	3	No valid license
2	Failure to signal	4	Speeding (15 or over)
2	Illegal turns	5*	Driving with license suspended or revoked
2	Failure to yield or stop	5*	Hit &run (misdemeanor)
2	Speeding (5 to 9 over)	5**	Eluding a police vehicle
2	Violation of school bus sign	5**	DWI, DUI, Reckless (negligent driving)
2	Impeding traffic (traveling too slowly)	5**	Vehicular assault/homicide, hit & run (felony)
2	Following too closely	5**	More than one accident in 3-5 years
2	Illegal lane change; improper lane travel	5	Unsatisfied bench warrant

*Disqualified if in last 5 years

** Disqualified if in last 10 years

3. Provide a minimum of two excellent references.

4. Be able to operate the assigned equipment.

5. Be willing to attend required training courses and to follow the Sponsoring Organization's policies.

6. A criminal history background check free of a record of crimes against others through the Family Care Safety Registry, the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site and the Federal Sex Offender Database. Your organization may include additional screening based on the customers you serve.

7. Self-declared form indicating the ability to physically carry out the essential job functions as listed in the job description.

8. Not have an uncontrolled chronic illness such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart or respiratory problems. When indicated, a driver must be willing to provide a physician's statement qualifying him/her as physically able to drive. (The suggested form is the one that goes with acquisition of a Commercial Driver’s License). If the driver does not have medical insurance, the Sponsoring Organization may choose to pay for the physical exam.

9. Not abuse alcohol, drugs and/or medication.

10. Willingness to sign and comply with sponsoring organization’s applicable policies covering confidentiality, ethics and conflicts of interest.

FEDERAL ACTIONS & UPDATES

NOFOs

FTA All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) – Jan. 30 deadline. About $343 million is made available this year for public transportation rail station accessibility projects for legacy rail stations.

FTA Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS) Program – Feb. 12 deadline. About $5.1 million is made available for an organization to promote digitally based systems that integrate every step of a capital project – from planning through asset management – to ensure projects stay on schedule and on budget. FTA will hold a NOFO webinar on Oct. 26, 4 p.m. ET – register here.

FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Grants – Feb. 13 deadline. About $4.7 million is made available for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities. FTA will hold a NOFO webinar on Dec. 14, 3 p.m. ET – registration to be opened.

EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program – Apr. 1 deadline. EPA announced a $4.6 billion competitive grant program to address GHG emission reduction strategies. GHG reduction strategies through transit measures are eligible for funding in this program. The full NOFO and guidance can be downloaded as a PDF on grants.gov. Page nine of the NOFO includes an illustrative list of example eligible measures from the transportation sector, many of which involve transit.

NOFO: GHG Reduction Measure Examples

Electrification requirements for state transit equipment fleets.
Policies to expand transit use, such as van-pool programs, ridesharing, transit fare subsidies.
New or expanded transportation infrastructure projects to facilitate public transit.

Federal Register Notices Seeking Comment

FTA & USDOT currently published transit notices seeking public comment:

· NPRM: State Safety Oversight revisions – response deadline Feb. 15. FTA proposes revisions to the State Safety Oversight (SS) regulation to implement new requirements of the IIJA, remove outdated references and simply notification requirements.

· ANPRM: Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management – response deadline Jan. 29. FTA is considering proposing minimum safety standards to provide protections for transit workers to reduce fatigue-related safety incidents. FTA seeks input on hours of service and fatigue risk management programs.

· RFI: Accessibility Improvements for Transportation Facilities – response deadline Feb. 20. FTA seeks public comment on ways to improve the accessibility of public transportation facilities for people with disabilities, as it considers whether to revise the existing DOT ADA requirements for transportation buildings and facilities including public transportation – the Notice poses seven questions on the topics of Vertical Access, Communications, Wayfinding and General Standards.