The opportunity to request funding for replacement vehicles and vehicle‐related equipment will be offered once a year in the applications for Federal programs that include funding for capital equipment.
Expansion Vehicles: Expansion vehicle funding will be included in these applications only if selected in the Strategic Transportation Investment (STI) process. Each prioritization process will include improvement in the distribution formula. FTA discretionary grant opportunities (5339B and 5339C) will be submitted when notice of funding opportunities for expansion needs are announced.
Fleet Capacity: A request that increases the seating capacity of a fleet is not considered an expansion request. Annually, vehicle replacement plans and practices are reviewed prior to grant award. This review includes utilization and mileage.
Cameras: Cameras must be transferred to new vehicles until their useful life is met. If the useful life is met, the camera can be included in the cost of the vehicle.
Radios and Advanced Technology: Radios and other advanced technology equipment on the vehicles will be moved from the old vehicles to the new vehicles until they have met the state’s useful service life standard for replacement.
Equipment Add-ons: The Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) does not reimburse subrecipients for additional equipment add‐ons; however, subrecipients will be provided the opportunity to select locally‐funded equipment add‐ons when they order their funded vehicles.
Vehicle Lettering: The funding request to have the lettering applied on a vehicle by a local community vendor is requested under Lettering & Logos - G591.
Vehicle Spare Parts: The applicant must have its own in‐house maintenance facility and mechanics to request funding for vehicle parts. The spare part must have a unit cost greater than $300 and a useful life greater than one (1) year.
Ineligible Requests: Handicap placards, car seats, annual license tag fees and highway use taxes are NOT eligible for administrative or capital funding.
Funds for Insurance Coverage of Vehicles: Applicants are allowed but not required to request Federal program funds for vehicle insurance costs as follows:
- State vehicle insurance limits for transit vehicles will still apply even if no Federal funding is requested for insurance coverage.
- Funding for insurance coverage can only be requested for the vehicles and spares used in revenue service at the time of application. The applicant may request this funding for some or all the eligible vehicles.
- Funding will be based on the actual cost of insurance being incurred at the time of the application review and not on the projected cost during the period of performance of the application. Applicants will submit an auto schedule (provided by the insurance company) that includes the number of premiums and liability coverage due per vehicle to use as a guide. IMD may limit funding for insurance coverage on a per vehicle basis. This information will be included in the application instructions.
- A grantee cannot transfer approved funds for insurance coverage to any other expense during the project.
Joint Urban/Rural Service Vehicles: Applicants that serve persons living in both rural and urban areas will complete a cost‐allocation plan to determine the split of funding for their entire fleet.
Inaccessible Vehicles: Subrecipients will submit an Equivalent Service Certification form and analysis depicting their service, when viewed in its entirety, is providing a level of service to persons with disabilities including persons in wheelchairs that is equivalent to the level of service it provides to persons without disabilities when requesting an inaccessible vehicle.
Duplicate Requests: IMD will not fund the replacement of a vehicle more than once. An applicant cannot use replacement vehicle funding to purchase an expansion vehicle.
