The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires NCDOT-IMD to develop and maintain a State Management Plan for the federally funded grant programs it administers for the State of North Carolina. This SMP covers the FTA Sections 5303, 5304, 5310, 5311, and 5339 programs in a single reference document, and is a comprehensive and coordinated document used by NCDOT-IMD, its sub recipients, and the FTA. It also includes IMD's policies, procedures, and administrative requirements.
Comments on the 2022 State Management Plan were submitted through our State Management Plan Public Comment Survey that was available for public review and comment from October 25, 2021 through November 29, 2021.
IMD received approval from the FTA on April 12, 2022.
2022 Plan: State Management Plan
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2026 Update:
Overview
The North Carolina Department of Transportation's Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) administers federal transit programs under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), including Sections 5310, 5311, 5307, and 5339, aiming to enhance transit services across rural and urban areas in the state. This State Management Plan (SMP) outlines the policies, goals, program administration, civil rights compliance, project management, and other federal requirements to ensure effective management and oversight of these programs.
IMD Mission and Goals: IMD focuses on providing safe, affordable, and innovative multimodal transportation throughout North Carolina, emphasizing increased access, enhanced quality of life, and safety, aligned with the state's long-range transportation plan.
Program Administration: The SMP covers federal transit programs including Section 5311 (rural formula grants), Section 5310 (mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities), Section 5307 (urbanized area formula funding), and Section 5339 (bus and bus facilities). IMD manages fund allocation, project selection, and compliance oversight, with recent shifts transferring some administrative responsibilities directly to FTA for urbanized areas.
Roles and Responsibilities: IMD administers program funding, ensures compliance, monitors subrecipients, and submits required reports, while subrecipients are responsible for applications, financial and technical capacity, and adherence to federal and state regulations.
Civil Rights Compliance: The SMP mandates adherence to Title VI, Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensuring nondiscrimination and accessibility in transit services and facilities.
Planning and Coordination: Transit agencies must participate in local and regional planning processes, coordinate human service and public transportation, and ensure projects align with locally developed coordinated public transit-human services transportation plans, especially for Section 5310 recipients.
Funding Distribution and Project Selection: IMD allocates funds equitably across eligible areas, evaluates project applicationsbased on need, implementation plans, budgets, and technical capacity, and submits an annual Program of Projects for approval.
Asset Management and Procurement: Subrecipients must manage assets acquired with federal funds according to federal regulations, maintain them properly, comply with useful life standards, and follow federal procurement procedures including Buy America requirements and competitive bidding.
Oversight and Audits: IMD conducts risk assessments, compliance reviews, and audits to ensure subrecipient adherence to federal requirements, including financial management, program income, and drug and alcohol testing programs for safety-sensitive employees.
Special Program Provisions: The SMP addresses intercity bus service requirements, fund transfers between programs, joint urban and rural projects cost allocation, and the Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) supporting training and technical assistance in rural areas.
Additional Requirements: Subrecipients must comply with regulations on charter service, school bus service, drug and alcohol testing, and maintain accessible services and facilities per ADA standards, including complementary paratransit services.
2026 Draft State Management Plan
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If you have any questions, you can contact Beth Gay at bmgay@ncdot.gov.
