New vehicles are not to be placed into revenue service until the grantee has done due diligence to assure that the vehicle and driver meet all standards of road readiness.
Vehicle Titling: The new vehicle must be titled to the grant recipient. IMD will be the First Lien holder. IMD will hold the titles of the 5310, 5311 and 5339, funded vehicles for systems receiving IMD oversight purchased vehicles. Instructions for filing titling paperwork will be provided by IMD.
Permanent Tags: Governmental bodies, private non‐profits, and transportation authorities are eligible to purchase permanent tags.
Handicapped Parking Permit(s): The application for Handicapped Parking permits can be found on the DMV website. These must be completed by the grantee and signed by a physician. Subrecipients may choose to get a permit to use in each lift equipped vehicle or get one or more permits to share within the fleet.
Vehicle Markings:
- Lettering of a new vehicle will be completed prior to placing it in revenue service.
- The transit system's name (spelled out) and a phone number must be on both sides of the vehicle. A logo or acronym may also be included. Lettering should be at least four (4") inches high.
- A statement such as “Open to the Public" indicating the system is a public transportation provider is required on all Section 5311 vehicles.
- If the vehicle is lift‐equipped, appropriate signage is required to be displayed.
Out-of-State Service Vehicles: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulatory responsibility for operators of small passenger carrying vehicles that engage in interstate service. Subrecipients must comply with these regulations as applicable. More information about FMCSA regulations is in Attachment 405‐1.
Driver Training: IMD has established Minimum Driver Training Standards for subrecipients. A driver should be fully trained within sixty (60) days of their hiring date.
On-board Safety Equipment: The following safety equipment is required to be on‐board public transit vehicles when in operation:
- Fire extinguisher (full and inspected);
- Bio‐hazard kit (fully stocked);
- First aid kit (fully stocked);
- Seatbelt web‐cutter; and,
- Driver reflective vest (optional but recommended).
Required Vehicle Operating Policies: The grantee must prepare policies for the following list of vehicle‐related issues and have them reviewed by their TAB and their Regional Grant Specialist. These policies should be approved by their governing board.