The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Public Transportation (ITD-PT) administers a variety of programs funded through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and oversees the State Vehicle Investment Program (VIP).
FTA Programs
5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program
The 5307 program makes Federal resources available to urbanized areas for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas and for transportation related planning. For urbanized areas with 200,000 in population and over, funds are apportioned and flow directly to a designated recipient selected locally to apply for and receive Federal funds. For urbanized areas under 200,000 in population, the funds are apportioned to the Governor of each state for distribution. A few areas under 200,000 in population have been designated as transportation management areas and receive apportionments directly.
5310 Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program
The 5310 program is designed to improve mobility for elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. Toward this goal, the FTA provides finance assistance for transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special transportation needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities in all areas – urbanized, small urban, and rural.
5311 Program Non-Urbanized (Rural) Area Formula Program
The 5311 program is designed to enhance the access to heath care, shopping, education, employment, public services and recreation for people in non-urbanized and rural areas. The program promotes the development, improvement, and use of public transportation systems in non-urbanized and rural areas.
5311(f) Non-Urbanized (Rural) Intercity Bus Formula Program
The 5311(f) program supports the connection between rural areas and the larger regional or national system of intercity bus services. The FTA has made available funds to support the vital link between otherwise isolated rural and small urban communities to the rest of the state and natio
5316 Job Access/Reverse Commute Program
As defined by the FTA, the 5316 program focuses on improving access to transportation services to employment and employment related activities for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals and to transport residents of urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities.
5317 New Freedom Program
The 5317 program aims to increase employment among Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers to transportation services and expanding the transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities.
State of Idaho Vehicle Investment Program (VIP)
The VIP program was designed to address the challenge facing rural and small urban communities to identify funding to acquire or upgrade vehicles within one grant year.
- The program assists communities that already own a vehicle in replacing or upgrading equipment to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and replaces vehicles that have exceeded their useful life, have become expensive to maintain, or are unreliable.
- The purpose and intent of the VIP is to combine federal, state, and local dollars to assist communities in their desire to fund the acquisition or lease of new/used vehicles, perform vehicle upgrades/modifications, or acquire vehicle related equipment within one grant year. This program has many benefits including:
- The three funding program approach helps accelerate the delivery of compliant vehicles that are appropriately equipped to Idaho communities
- Assists communities that already own a vehicle to replace or upgrade equipment to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Continually improving the overall quality and safety of public transportation vehicles and services across the state.
- Helps reduce the number of open federal grants as mandated by the Federal Transit Administration.
- Helps invigorate senior community centers through improved membership, participation, and overall community involvement
- VIP vehicles often provide the only access for hot meals, companionship for seniors, and lifeline services for transit dependent citizens
- Supports the coordination of services between established public transportation service providers, senior centers, disability advocate agencies, and others
- Helps replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life and have become expensive to maintain and unreliable
For further information regarding the above programs, please contact the Division of Public Transportation.
