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Programs of Statewide significance - 74 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1516Legal Research Home > Pennsylvania Statutes Sponsored Links
§ 1516. Programs of Statewide significance.
(a) General rule.--Money in the fund allocated for programs
of Statewide significance shall be used by the department to
support public transportation programs, activities and services
not otherwise fully funded through the operating program,
capital program or asset improvement program. In addition to any
requirements contained in this section, applications must comply
with section 1507 (relating to application and approval
process). Programs of Statewide significance shall include:
(1) The Persons with Disabilities Program.
(2) Intercity passenger rail and bus services.
(3) Community transportation capital and service
stabilization.
(4) The Welfare-to-Work Program and matching funds for
Federal programs with similar intent.
(5) Demonstration and research projects.
(6) Technical assistance.
(7) Other programs as determined by the department.
(8) The department's costs under sections 1510(b)
(relating to program oversight and administration) and 1518
(relating to program oversight and administration).
(b) Persons with disabilities.--The department shall
establish and administer a program providing reduced fares to
persons with disabilities on community transportation services
and to provide financial assistance for start-up, administrative
and capital expenses related to reduced fares for persons with
disabilities. All of the following shall apply:
(1) A community transportation system operating in the
Commonwealth other than in counties of the first and second
class may apply for financial assistance under this
subsection.
(2) The department may award financial assistance under
this subsection for program start-up and for continuing
capital expenses to offset administrative and capital
expenses. For community transportation trips made by eligible
persons with disabilities, financial assistance may be
awarded to an eligible community transportation system to
reimburse the system for up to 85% of the fare established
for the general public for each trip which is outside of
fixed-route and paratransit service areas and not eligible
for funding from any other program or funding source. The
person making the trip or an approved third-party sponsor
shall contribute the greater of 15% of the fare established
for the general public or the Americans with Disabilities Act
complementary paratransit fare.
(c) Intercity transportation.--The department is authorized
to provide financial assistance for an efficient and coordinated
intercity common carrier surface transportation program,
consisting of both intercity passenger rail service and
intercity bus service transportation, with the intent of
sustaining strong intercity connections. All of the following
shall apply:
(1) An intercity passenger rail service provider, a
local transportation organization, an agency or
instrumentality of the Commonwealth or a transportation
company that provides intercity public transportation service
may apply for financial assistance under this subsection. The
department is authorized to enter into joint service
agreements with a railroad company, any other agency or
instrumentality of the Commonwealth, a Federal agency or an
agency or instrumentality of any other jurisdiction relating
to property, buildings, structures, facilities, services,
rates, fares, classifications, dividends, allowances or
charges, including charges between intercity rail passenger
service facilities, or rules or regulations pertaining
thereto, for or in connection with or incidental to
transportation in whole or in part upon intercity rail
passenger service facilities.
(2) Operating assistance and capital assistance may be
provided for intercity bus service and intercity passenger
rail service as determined by the department.
(3) For financial assistance to a transportation
company, eligible matching funds shall consist only of cash
income generated by the transportation company from its
activities, other than the provision of subsidized public
passenger transportation service and contributed by the
transportation company in the amount and for the time period
specified in the financial assistance agreement.
(4) Local match requirements are as follows:
(i) For intercity bus service operating and capital
assistance, financial assistance shall require a local
match by local or private cash funding in an amount equal
to at least 100% of the amount of the financial
assistance being provided.
(ii) For intercity passenger rail service operating
and capital assistance, financial assistance shall
require a local match on a case-by-case basis, taking
into account the best interests of the Commonwealth.
(5) For purposes of this subsection, "local match" is
defined as local revenue obtained from other nonsubsidized
services such as charter, school bus or profits realized from
other intercity bus services. Local match shall not include
any funds received from Federal or State sources.
(d) Community transportation.--
(1) The department is authorized to provide financial
assistance under this section for all of the following:
(i) Capital expenditures for the provision of
community transportation service; and
(ii) service stabilization, including:
(A) Stabilizing current service and fares.
(B) Providing advice or technical assistance to
analyze and enhance community transportation system
resources and services.
(C) Maximizing available funding including
Federal dollars.
(D) Ensuring equitable cost sharing.
(2) Subject to the limitations of this subsection, the
following may apply for financial assistance under this
subsection:
(i) The governing body of a county, other than a
county of the first or second class.
(ii) A transportation company designated by the
governing body of the county as the coordinator of
community transportation service.
(iii) An agency or instrumentality of the
Commonwealth.
(2.1) Each eligible applicant shall be subject to all of
the following requirements:
(i) An applicant for financial assistance for
capital expenditures for the provision of public
community transportation service shall certify to the
department that it has taken all reasonable steps to
coordinate local service for the elderly and persons with
disabilities and that the services to be offered with the
capital assets do not duplicate existing fixed-route
services.
(ii) The governing body of a county or the
coordinator described under this paragraph shall not be
eligible for financial assistance for service
stabilization if any of the following apply:
(A) The coordinator receives financial
assistance under the operating program established
under this chapter.
(B) The coordinator is a private for-profit
provider.
(3) Financial assistance for service stabilization may
only be provided for the following purposes:
(i) Short-term, long-term and strategic planning.
(ii) Technology investment.
(iii) Training programs designed to enhance
transportation management and staff expertise.
(iv) Offsetting operating expenses that cannot be
covered by fare revenue due to emergencies.
(v) Marketing activities.
(vi) Other stabilization purposes approved by the
department.
(4) The department shall give high priority to providing
financial assistance under this subsection as match for
Federal funding to support capital projects for community
transportation systems.
(5) The department shall conduct a study to evaluate the
effectiveness and efficiency of community transportation
service delivery as it relates to human service programs. The
Department of Public Welfare, the Office of the Budget and
the Department of Aging and other appropriate Commonwealth
agencies identified by the department shall participate in
the study. Within two years following the effective date of
this section, these agencies shall make recommendations to
the Governor and the Majority and Minority chairpersons of
the Transportation Committee of the Senate and the Majority
and Minority chairpersons of the Transportation Committee of
the House of Representatives for improving coordination and
efficiency of human services and community transportation.
(d.1) Welfare-to-work and Federal programs match.--The
department is authorized to provide financial assistance under
this section to design and implement projects and services and
to reimburse award recipients for the expenses associated with
the projects and services that identify and address public
passenger transportation and related barriers preventing
individuals eligible for participation in the Federal welfare-
to-work program from securing and maintaining employment and
from accessing community services and facilities. All of the
following shall apply:
(1) A local transportation organization, a
transportation company designated by a county as the
coordinator of community transportation services or any other
person approved by the department may apply to the department
for financial assistance under this subsection.
(2) Financial assistance awarded under this subsection
shall be used for any of the following purposes:
(i) Fixed-route service subsidy.
(ii) Contracted transportation services.
(iii) Fixed-route fare discounts.
(iv) Community transportation fare discounts.
(v) Taxi fare discounts.
(vi) Mileage reimbursement.
(vii) Vehicle purchase, insurance, maintenance and
repair.
(viii) Driver education classes.
(ix) Administrative expenses.
(x) Case management expenses.
(xi) Any other activities consistent with the
transportation related elements of the welfare-to-work
program.
(3) The department shall give high priority to providing
financial assistance under this subsection as match for
Federal funding to support projects with similar purposes and
eligible uses, including the Federal Job Access Reverse
Commute and New Freedoms programs.
(e) Technical assistance and demonstration.--The department
is authorized to provide financial assistance under this section
for technical assistance, research and short-term demonstration
projects. All of the following shall apply:
(1) A local transportation organization or an agency or
instrumentality of the Commonwealth may apply to the
department for financial assistance under this subsection.
(2) Financial assistance provided under this subsection
may be used for reimbursement for any approved operating or
capital costs related to technical assistance and
demonstration program projects. Financial assistance for
short-term demonstration projects may be provided at the
department's discretion on an annual basis based on the level
of financial commitment provided by the award recipient to
provide ongoing future funding for the project as soon as the
project meets the criteria established by the department and
the award recipient. Financial assistance for this purpose
shall not be provided for more than three fiscal years.
Financial assistance may be provided to meet any short-term
emergency need that requires immediate attention and cannot
be funded through other sources.
(3) Financial assistance under this subsection provided
to a local transportation organization shall be matched by
local or private cash funding in an amount not less than
3.33% of the amount of the financial assistance being
provided. The sources of funds for the local match shall be
subject to the requirements of section 1513(d)(3) (relating
to operating program).
Cross References. Section 1516 is referred to in section
1506 of this title.
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Last modified: November 27, 2007 |