Grants
Funding transportation projects that serve older adults and people with disabilities
Public notice regarding grant availability:
Aviso público en español acerca de los subvenciones: 2021-03-29
Cherriots administers grants for transportation projects that serve older adults and people with disabilities in Marion and Polk Counties. Funding comes from two different sources: the State Special Transportation Fund (STF) and Federal Section 5310 funds passed through the Oregon Department of Transportation (5310 (ODOT)). Cherriots is the STF Agency for Marion and Polk Counties, and as such, the District screens the projects that go to ODOT and FTA for final approval. The application processes are documented in the Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (The Coordinated Plan), dated September 2019. Details such as eligible applicants, eligible projects, and project selection criteria can be found in the application instructions when they become available. Click on the tabs above for details regarding each grant application.
The Special Transportation Fund (STF) Program provides a flexible, coordinated, reliable and continuing source of revenue in support of transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities of any age. The Oregon Legislature intended that STF funds be used to provide transportation services needed to access health, education, work, and social/recreational opportunities so that seniors and people with disabilities may live as independently and productively as possible. The funds may be used for any purpose directly related to transportation services, including transit operations, capital equipment, planning, travel training, and other transit-related purposes. These funds will be awarded to applicants within Cherriots’ STF region (Marion and Polk Counties). There are no local match requirements for STF awards. STF dollars may be used as local match for federally funded projects.
STF grants are available every two years. The current biennial cycle ends on June 30, 2021. Applications for STF grants are currently closed.
Title 49 USC Section 5310 authorizes the formula assistance program for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program and provides formula funds to designated recipients to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
The Federal Transit Administration has announced the availability of federal fiscal year 2022 Section 5310 Formula funds ($252,229), and an additional availability of Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSAA) though the 5310 program in the amount of ($42,464). Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) is a designated recipient of 5310(FTA) funds for the Salem-Keizer urban area and is responsible for soliciting for projects on an annual basis. Section 5310 funds (5310(FTA)) can be used for public transportation projects serving seniors and individuals with disabilities within the Salem-Keizer urban growth boundary only, and CRRSAA 5310 funds are to be used for expenses incurred responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Matching local funds are required for 5310 Formula grant. The match ratio is dependent on the type of project proposed. Projects must be listed in the Cherriots “Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan” dated September 2019. A list of eligible projects can be found in the tables of Chapter 6, beginning on p. 54. The CRRSAA 5310 grant funds do not require any match.
During two public meetings, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will review and rank applications for 5310 dollars, and the Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) will review grant proposals and make a project priority ranking recommendation to the SAMTD Board. There will be time for public testimony at the TAC and STFAC meetings.
Applications for FY2022 are available below beginning March 29, 2021. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on May 5, 2021.
A virtual grant training session will be held to assist in the application process on April 2, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participation is by phone or webcast only. There will be no in-person gathering for this meeting. New applicants are encouraged to attend. Any organization interested in submitting a proposal should contact Jolene White, SAMTD, 555 Court St NE, Suite 5230, Salem, OR 97301, phone 503-361-7521, e-mail Jolene.white@cherriots.org for details.
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Title 49 USC Section 5310 authorizes the formula assistance program for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program and provides formula funds to designated recipients to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Cherriots is the agency responsible for distributing formula allocations for projects located within Marion and Polk Counties for Section 5310 funds passed through ODOT. This program funds eligible capital, contracted service, and preventive maintenance projects for transportation providers serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Through the Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA), ODOT has supplemented Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 funds with flexible Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding. In recent years, as much as 88% of 5310 funding distributed by the state was due to ODOT STP funds transferred to the FTA 5310 Program.
ODOT’s 5310 program requires that all projects selected for award address at least one need or strategy identified in the Cherriots Coordinated Public Transportation – Human Services Transportation Plan dated September 2019 (“The Coordinated Plan”).
The 2021-23 STIF Formula process is now closed. For more information on the STIF program visit the ODOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund at: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/rptd/pages/stif.aspx.