FY 2012 Capital Budget and FY 2012-2023 Capital Program - Septa

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FUNDING OUTLOOK AND SHORTFALL
Funding Sources
Federal
Fiscal Year 2009 was the final year of the U. S. Transportation Act - Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation
Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). As work on the reauthorization of a new Surface Transportation bill continues,
Congress and the President have approved an extension of SAFETEA-LU through September 30, 2011. The American Public
Transportation Association (APTA) and the transit industry are working with the Administration and members of Congress on
reauthorization. It is uncertain at this time how this bill will be framed in terms of funding levels or grant programs. The Authority will
assume for this proposal that the following SAFETEA-LU programs will continue to be in effect in Fiscal Year 2012.
Formula Programs – Formula programs are those for which funds are appropriated by a formula specified in authorizing law. Funding
programs applicable to SEPTA include Urbanized Area, Growing States, New Freedom, and Job Access and Reverse Commute.
Programs include:
• Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) – Formula funding allocations are based on population statistics for urbanized
areas and operating statistics reported by transit agencies. Statistics used include population, population density, vehicle
revenue miles, fixed guideway route miles, passenger miles, and operating costs.
• Growing States and High Density States (Section 5340) – Funds are apportioned as follows: one-half of the funds made
available under the Growing States formula are apportioned by a formula based on state population forecasts for 15 years
beyond the most recent Census; the other half of the funds are available under the High Density States formula and are
apportioned to states with population densities in excess of 370 persons per square mile. Seven states are identified in
SAFETEA-LU to receive High Density States funds – Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
York, and Rhode Island. These funds are apportioned only to urbanized areas within those states.
• Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program (Section 5316) - The JARC program is allocated by formula, rather than
by a competitive discretionary grant program as was the case under the prior Transportation legislation. The formula is based
on ratios involving the number of eligible low income and welfare recipients in urban and rural areas. The program’s objective
is the provision of maximum flexibility to job access projects designed to meet the needs of individuals who are not effectively
served by public transportation. Coordination of this program is required between private, non-profit, and public transportation
providers and other federal programs including coordination with the New Freedom program and the Elderly and Disabled
program.
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