Rural Public Transit Team

The Rural Public Transit Team (PTT) promotes, safe, sustainable, and barrier-free public transit throughout the State of Utah.

To meet UDOT’s Strategic Goals, the PTT does the following:

Promote and advocate for public transit by raising awareness, building partnerships, and improving customer service.
Support and promote new technologies and information to leverage the effectiveness of public transit resources.
Further leverage transit resources by building relationships with stakeholder groups and by effectively sharing information.
Increase responsiveness as a team to changing public transit and public demands by emphasizing planning efforts and increasing awareness of trends affecting public transit.
Implement policies and procedures that support the equitable distribution of transit funds throughout the state.

Public Transit Team Staff Contact Information

Alana Spendlove, Rural Public Transit Program Manager
Phone: 801-910-2095
aspendlove@utah.gov

Rebecca Collins, Program Specialist, Section 5310
Phone: 801-965-4133
rebeccacollins@utah.gov

LeAnn Abegglen, Program Specialist, Sections 5311 and 5339
Phone: 801-965-4119
labegglen@utah.gov

Jordan Hess, Program Specialist, Financial
Phone: 801-875-0065
jordanhess1@utah.gov

Ray Earl, Compliance Manager
Phone: 385-209-3776
rearl@utah.gov

Public Transit Team On-Line System

Current Events & Announcements

Availability of Federal Transit Administration Funds

The Utah Department of Transportation is pleased to announce the availability of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2024 plus excess funds from other years. Administration of available funds is competitive and requires application for those funds. The first phase of the application process begins on September 1, 2021 with submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI).

To submit an LOI, go directly to the submission page. The last day to submit an LOI form is October 1, 2021. If online submission option does not work for you and would like to fill out a hard copy of the LOI, please email or call Alana Spendlove at aspendlove@utah.gov, 801-910-2095 or Rebecca Collins at rebeccacollins@utah.gov, 801-965-4133.

Funding is available for the following programs:

Section 5310 – Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
Section 5311 – Formula Grants for Rural Areas
Section 5339 – Bus and Bus Facilities

For more information on the LOI and application process please see the “Application Process & Guidance” section below.

For additional information on the above federal FTA programs, please go to FTA’s website.

Federal Transit Administration

Utah Department of Transportation
STIP Program Years 2024

Advertisement for Funding for Eligible Projects*

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act)
Program	Year	Program Amount	Program Area
5310	2024	$276,500 $349,000	Statewide* Small Urban*
5311	2024	$7,684,350	Statewide
5339	2024	$3,500,000 $372,325	Statewide Small Urban

*Program amounts are approximate amounts and subject to change
*Small Urban: Logan & City of St. George
*Statewide: Outside of MPO Regions & Small Urban

Certifications & Assurances & Annual Schedule

2021 Certs & Assurances Signature Page
Public Transit Annual Schedule

FTA Funding Programs

FTA Section 5304 - Statewide Planning

FTA 5304 funds are used by UDOT staff to take care of the statewide transit planning needs for areas outside the urbanized MPO boundaries; to conduct transit feasibility studies; to provide five-year transit development plans on a regional basis, as needed; and to conduct special transit research studies. These funds are also used to identify transit program needs, and to develop solutions short and long range transportation plans.

Fact Sheet for Section 5304 (MAP-21)
5304 Statewide Planning Funds

Awarded Projects

State may authorize a portion of these funds to be used to supplement and administer Metropolitan Planning funds allocated by the State to its urbanized areas, as the State deems appropriate. The objective is to assist in the development of cost effective multimodal transportation improvement programs, which include the planning, engineering, and design of Federal Transit projects and other technical studies, in a program for a unified and officially coordinated Statewide Transportation system.

An applicant for Section 5304 funds must comply with all the following threshold criteria:

FTA Program 5310 - Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

This Program is intended to enhance mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities by providing funds for programs to serve the special needs of transit-dependent populations beyond traditional public transportation services and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services.

Fact Sheet for Section 5310 (MAP-21)

The UDOT goal for administration of the Section 5310 Program for the State of Utah is to provide supplemental assistance to State-approved private non-profit corporations or eligible public governmental agencies in meeting the special transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities.

Eligible entities include:

Examples of UDOT’s capital expenses could be but not limited to:

FTA Program 5311 - Rural Public Transportation

This program provides capital, planning and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations less than 50,000 where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. Federal law requires states to spend 15 percent of their Section 5311 apportionment “to carry out a program for the development and support of intercity bus transportation” unless the Governor certifies that the intercity bus service needs of the state are being adequately met relative to other rural transportation needs.

Fact Sheet for Section 5311 (MAP-21)

The goal of the Section 5311 program (not including Intercity Bus) is to provide the following services to communities with population less than 50,000:

Eligible entities include the State or local governmental authority, a nonprofit organization, or an operator of public transportation or intercity bus service that receives federal transit program grant funds indirectly through a recipient.

Intercity bus service is a vital link between rural communities and the urban areas within the State as well as the rest of the nation. The goals of the Section 5311(f) Intercity Bus program are to:

If intercity bus needs are met, the Governor must state so in a letter to FTA. Only then may funds be included (transferred) to the regional apportionment funds.

For purposes of Section 5311(f) only, FTA permits states to pass through funds to local public bodies and private nonprofit and for profit intercity bus providers. UDOT uses a merit based selection process to ensure that the private operator is qualified, will provide eligible service, can comply with Federal and State requirements, and is the best, or only, provider available to offer service at a fair and reasonable cost.

FTA Section 5329 - Public Transportation Safety and Oversight

FTA Section 5329 provides funds for safety and oversight of rail transit safety.

Fact Sheet for Section 5329 (FAST Act)

The goal of the Section 5329 program is to implement and maintain a national public transportation safety program to improve the safety of all public transportation systems that receive federal funding.

FTA Section 5339 - Bus and Bus Facilities

FTA Section 5339 provides capital funding to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.

Fact Sheet for Section 5339 (MAP-21)

The goal of the Section 5339 program is to improve bus and bus facilities by funding capital projects to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses, vans, and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities.