Federal Transit Administration

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT. Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States, the FTA functions through Washington, D.C headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories. Until 1991, it was known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA).

Federal Transit Administration
Agency overview
FormedJuly 9, 1964
Superseding agency
  • Urban Mass Transportation Administration
JurisdictionUnited States
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Agency executives
Parent agencyDepartment of Transportation (USDOT)
Websitewww.transit.dot.gov

Public transportation includes buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, monorail, passenger ferry boats, trolleys, inclined railways, and people movers. The federal government, through the FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees grants to state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. These providers are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with federal requirements, and the FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements.

History

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy sent a major transportation message to the U.S. Congress. It called for the establishment of a program of federal capital assistance for mass transportation. President Kennedy stated, "To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development. Our national welfare therefore requires the provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth."

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law, which passed the House by a vote of 212-129 and cleared the Senate 52–41, creating the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.[3] The agency was charged with providing federal assistance for mass transit projects, including an initial $375 million in capital assistance over three years as mandated by the act. In 1991, the agency was renamed the Federal Transit Administration.[4]

Administrators

The current Administrator is Nuria I. Fernandez, having assumed the post in 2021 as Acting Administrator, before being subsequently confirmed to the position by the Senate in June 2021.[5] Below is a list of past administrators.[6]

Administrator Term started Term ended
Paul L. Sitton 1966 1969
Carlos C. Villarreal 1969 1973
Frank C. Herringer 1973 1975
Robert E. Patricelli 1975 1977
Richard S. Page 1977 1979
Theodore C. Lutz 1979 1981
Arthur Teele 1981 1983
Ralph L. Stanley 1983 1987
Alfred A. DelliBovi 1987 1989
Brian H. Clymer 1989 1993
Gordon Linton 1993 1999
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting) 1999 2001
Hiram J. Walker (acting) 2001 2001
Jennifer L. Dorn 2001 2006
James S. Simpson 2006 2008
Sherry Little (acting) 2008 2009
Matthew Welbes (acting) 2009 2009
Peter Rogoff May 2009 January 2011
Therese McMillan (acting) January 2014 March 2016
Carolyn Flowers (acting) April 2016 January 20, 2017
Matthew Welbes (acting) January 20, 2017 August 2017
K. Jane Williams August 2017 January 20, 2021
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting) January 20, 2021 June 10, 2021
Nuria I. Fernandez June 10, 2021 Present

Notable programs
  • Metropolitan & Statewide Planning[7]
  • Urbanized Formula Funding[8]
  • Clean Fuels Grant Program[9]
  • Major Capital Investments[10]
  • Fixed Guideway Modernization[11]
  • Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities[12]
  • Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas[13]
  • Public Transportation on Indian Reservations[14]
  • Rural Transit Assistance Program[15]
  • Transit Cooperative Research Program[16]
  • National Research & Technology Program[17]
  • Job Access and Reverse Commute Program[18]
  • New Freedom Program[19]
  • Bus and Bus Facilities[20]
  • Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program[21]
  • Alternatives Analysis[22]
  • University Transportation Centers Program[23]
  • Over-the-Road Bus Program[24]
  • BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development), formerly TIGER (Transit Investment Generating Economic Recovery)[25][26]
  • Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program[27]
  • Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program[28]

References
  1. "Government Officials at the US Department of Transportation | US Department of Transportation". www.transportation.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  2. "Federal Transit Administration Announces Veronica Vanterpool as Deputy Administrator | FTA". www.transit.dot.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  3. "The Beginnings of Federal Assistance for Public Transportation". Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  4. "Urban Transportation Planning In the United States: An Historical Overview". U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  5. "President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor, Department of Energy, and Department of Transportation". 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. "Heads of the Operating Administrations, U.S. Department of Transportation". Office of the Historian, U.S. DOT. March 1, 2009. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  7. Metropolitan & Statewide Planning (5303, 5304, 5305). Federal Transit Administration.
  8. Urbanized Formula Funding (5307). Federal Transit Administration.
  9. Clean Fuels Grant Program (5308) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  10. Major Capital Investments (New Starts & Small Starts) (5309(b)(1)) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  11. Fixed Guideway Modernization (5309 (b)(2)) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  12. Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities (5310). Federal Transit Administration.
  13. Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas (5311) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  14. Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (5311(c)). Federal Transit Administration.. Federal Transit Administration.
  15. Rural Transit Assistance Program (5311(b)(3)). Federal Transit Administration.
  16. Transit Cooperative Research Program (5313) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  17. National Research & Technology Program (5314). Federal Transit Administration.
  18. Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (5316) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  19. New Freedom Program (5317) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  20. Bus and Bus Facilities (5309, 5318) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  21. Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program (5320) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  22. Alternatives Analysis (5339) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  23. University Transportation Centers Program (TEA-21 5505) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  24. Over-the-Road Bus Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  25. "Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program (formerly TIGER)". United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  26. TIGER (USDOT). Federal Transit Administration.
  27. TIGGER Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
  28. Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
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