SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of discretionary Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities grant funds in support of the Department of Transportations Livability Initiative (Livability Bus Program). The Livability Bus program will be funded using $150 million in unallocated Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds, authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEALU), Public Law 10959, August 10, 2005. FTA may use additional Bus and Bus Facilities funding that becomes available for discretionary allocation to further support this initiative. The Livability Bus Program makes funds available to public transit providers to finance capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including programs of bus and bus-related projects for assistance to sbrecipients that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit organizations. This notice includes priorities established by FTA for these discretionary funds, the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious projects for funding, and describes how to apply. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections on the Web site and in the Federal Register. A synopsis of this announcement will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at http://www.grants.gov. Proposals may be submitted to FTA electronically at
[email protected] or through the GRANTS.GOV APPLY function. Those who apply via e-mail at
[email protected] should receive a confirmation e-mail within two business days. Please refer to eligibility criteria, application instructions and procedures outlined in the Federal Register Notice: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-29242.pdf