LAB announces the good news that the FTA is proposing a rule change that will expand FTA funding eligibility for bicycle and pedestrian improvements beyond the current threshold distances of one-half mile for pedestrian projects and within three miles for bicycle improvements. Currently, the catchment area is limited to 1500 feet (with some exceptions).
From the proposal
FTA has reason to believe that pedestrians are willing to spend more than fifteen minutes walking to public transportation stops and stations: A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine concluded that Americans who use public transportation spend a median of nineteen minutes daily walking to and from public transportation; and people in high-density urban areas were more likely to spend approximately thirty minutes walking to and from public transportation daily.
Applying the same timeframes to bicyclists yields at least a three mile catchment area. Bicycle paths would extend further than a pedestrian facility and still be functionally related because ‘‘bicyclists are willing to travel much longer distances than pedestrians, largely due to higher average speeds attainable by bicycle.’’ Inasmuch as the average bicycle commuter travels at ten miles per hour,32 FTA proposes a bicycle catchment area of three miles from public transportation stops and stations.
Most grant programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) may be used to fund the design, construction, and maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian projects that enhance or are related to public transportation facilities. Improvements made expressly eligible by statute include capital projects like pedestrian and bicycle access to a public transportation facility 18; and transit enhancements like pedestrian access, walkways, and bicycle access, including bicycle storage facilities and equipment for transporting bicycles on public transportation vehicles.
And it points out another source of bicycle funding.
One percent of Urbanized Area Formula program funds apportioned to urbanized areas with populations of at least 200,000 are set aside for transit enhancements. Eligible transit enhancement projects include pedestrian access and walkways, bicycle access, including bicycle storage facilities and installing equipment for transporting bicycles on public transportation vehicles.24 As an added incentive, the Federal share of transit enhancement grants covers 90 percent of the cost of the project.25 If the project involves providing bicycle access to public transportation, the grant or portion of that grant may be at a Federal share of 95 percent.
There's about $3.5B available nationwide, but I'm not sure how much DC gets. But this could be used to fund the currently-unfunded PG County Connector Trail.
Comments