Federal Transit Administration Explained

Jurisdiction:United States
Headquarters:1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Superseding:Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Chief1 Name:Veronica Vanterpool [1] (acting)
Chief1 Position:Administrator
Chief2 Name:Veronica Vanterpool[2]
Chief2 Position:Deputy Administrator
Parent Agency:Department of Transportation (USDOT)

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT. Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States, the FTA functions through Washington, D.C headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories. Until 1991, it was known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA).

Public transportation includes buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, monorail, passenger ferry boats, trolleys, inclined railways, and people movers. The federal government, through the FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees grants to state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. These providers are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with federal requirements, and the FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements.

History

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy sent a major transportation message to the U.S. Congress. It called for the establishment of a program of federal capital assistance for mass transportation. President Kennedy stated, "To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development. Our national welfare therefore requires the provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth."

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law, which passed the House by a vote of 212-129 and cleared the Senate 52–41, creating the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.[3] The agency was charged with providing federal assistance for mass transit projects, including an initial $375 million in capital assistance over three years as mandated by the act. In 1991, the agency was renamed the Federal Transit Administration.[4]

Administrators

The current acting Administrator is Veronica Vanterpool since February 24, 2024. Below is a list of past administrators.[5]

AdministratorTerm startedTerm ended
Paul L. Sitton19661969
Carlos C. Villarreal19691973
Frank C. Herringer19731975
Robert E. Patricelli19751977
Richard S. Page19771979
Theodore C. Lutz19791981
Arthur Teele19811983
Ralph L. Stanley19831987
Alfred A. DelliBovi19871989
Brian H. Clymer19891993
Gordon Linton19931999
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting)19992001
Hiram J. Walker (acting)20012001
Jennifer L. Dorn20012006
James S. SimpsonJune 2006December 2008
Sherry Little (acting)20082009
Matthew Welbes (acting)20092009
Peter RogoffMay 2009January 2014
Therese McMillan (acting)January 2014March 31, 2016
Carolyn Flowers (acting)April 1, 2016January 20, 2017
Matthew Welbes (acting)January 20, 2017August 2017
K. Jane Williams (acting)August 2017January 20, 2021
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting)January 20, 2021June 10, 2021
Nuria I. FernandezJune 10, 2021February 24, 2024
Veronica Vanterpool (acting)February 24, 2024Incumbent

Notable programs

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Government Officials at the US Department of Transportation . US Department of Transportation . 2021-02-02. 2019-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221215744/https://www.transportation.gov/mission/meet-key-officials. live.
  2. Web site: Federal Transit Administration Announces Veronica Vanterpool as Deputy Administrator | FTA. www.transit.dot.gov. 2022-05-12. 2022-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717225305/https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/news/federal-transit-administration-announces-veronica-vanterpool-deputy-administrator. live.
  3. Web site: The Beginnings of Federal Assistance for Public Transportation . Federal Transit Administration . November 18, 2011 . July 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717225320/https://www.transit.dot.gov/about-fta . live .
  4. Web site: Urban Transportation Planning In the United States: An Historical Overview . U.S. Department of Transportation . July 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719025606/http://tmip.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/clearinghouse/docs/utp/ch1.htm . July 19, 2011 . dead .
  5. Web site: Heads of the Operating Administrations, U.S. Department of Transportation. March 1, 2009. Office of the Historian, U.S. DOT. https://web.archive.org/web/20150912204303/http://ntl.bts.gov/historian/service.htm . September 12, 2015. January 20, 2016.
  6. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3563.html Metropolitan & Statewide Planning (5303, 5304, 5305)
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20161101111515/https://www.transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3561.html Urbanized Formula Funding (5307)
  8. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3560.html Clean Fuels Grant Program (5308)
  9. https://transit.dot.gov/12304.html Major Capital Investments (New Starts & Small Starts) (5309(b)(1))
  10. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3558.html Fixed Guideway Modernization (5309 (b)(2))
  11. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3556.html Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities (5310)
  12. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3555.html Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas (5311)
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20161105165107/https://www.transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3553.html Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (5311(c))
  14. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3554.html Rural Transit Assistance Program (5311(b)(3))
  15. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3552.html Transit Cooperative Research Program (5313)
  16. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3551.html National Research & Technology Program (5314)
  17. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3550.html Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (5316)
  18. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13093_3549.html New Freedom Program (5317)
  19. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3557.html Bus and Bus Facilities (5309, 5318)
  20. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_6106.html Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program (5320)
  21. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_7395.html Alternatives Analysis (5339)
  22. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_3547.html University Transportation Centers Program (TEA-21 5505)
  23. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_11856.html Over-the-Road Bus Program
  24. Web site: Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program (formerly TIGER) . United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration . 23 June 2022 . 6 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220606232453/https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/better-utilizing-investments-leverage-development-build-transportation-grants-program . live .
  25. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_13647.html TIGER (USDOT)
  26. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_11424.html TIGGER Program
  27. https://transit.dot.gov/grants/13094_13528.html Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Federal Transit Administration".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.