Section 5310 Transit Funding

Program Overview

The Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (49 USC Section 5310) "Section 5310" Program provides grants to assist non-profit organizations, private operators, and public agencies providing coordinated transportation services that are planned, designed, and carried out to meet the needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities.  This funding originates with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and is administered by GoRaleigh and CAMPO. 

The FTA's Section 5310 funding program provides capital and operating grants to private non-profit corporations and public agencies coordinated transportation services that meet the needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. The City of Raleigh is a recipient of these funds and is responsible for its oversight and administration to local, eligible subrecipients. Along with this responsibility, Raleigh and CAMPO are required to frequently update the PMP and ensure it is consistent with the Wake County and Raleigh Urbanized Area Locally Coordinated Public Transit- Human Services Transportation Plan (LCPT-HSTP), which provides guidance on meeting local transportation needs for the disabled and elderly populations.

FY 2024-25 Program of Projects

Each year, the Raleigh-Cary UZA is apportioned formula grant funding by the FTA for the Section 5310 Program. Funds are available for capital and operating expenses that support the provision of enhanced transportation services to meet the specific needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities outlined in the region’s LCPT-HSTP.  

In accordance with the 2020 updated Program Management Plan, GoRaleigh administered a call for eligible projects February 27 to March 24, 2023 soliciting applications for FYs 2024 and 2025 projects that would make use of the Raleigh UZA’s Section 5310 funding. To assist potential applicants with the application process, understanding project eligibility and program expectations, a virtual application workshop was held, with the recording posted to GoRaleigh's website.  A total of $2.3 million is available to be awarded for eligible projects for FFYs 2024-25 period of performance.  This amount includes $2 million from FYs 2022-2023 allocations and additional funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act - $114,609, and $114,611 from the American Rescue Plan.

In response to the call for projects, a total of six (6) applications were received from various agencies. (Center for Volunteer Caregiving, Community and Senior Services of Johnston County, GoTriangle, GoWake, Pearlt Transit Corporation and CAMPO.) A project selection committee made a recommendation on projects to award funding to based on selection criteria outlined in the adopted Program Management Plan and application. All six (6) applications are eligible and were recommended for funding. All but Wake County were recommended to receive the full requested amount.  GoWake was the lowest scoring federally-funded applicant and made a sizable request.  The adjustment to the Wake request is consistent with past recommendations when total funding requests exceeded available funds. COVID relief funds have been distributed to eligible projects, which adjusted local match requirements and slightly increased the total federal funding amount provided to those applicatnts.  Those eligbile projects, with the exception of GoTriangle and GoWake, benefit from receiving COVID funds with a reduced match total and greater federal dollars. 

The Recommended Section 5310 Program of Projects for 2024-2025 was approved by the CAMPO Executive Board in June of 2023. 

Program Administration

The Program Management Plan (PMP) is a federally required document that outlines how FTA Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities funding is administered within the Raleigh-Cary Urbanized Area. 

Previous Grant Awards - FFY 2022 and 2023

• Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 and 2023 Grant Awards
  Approved by the Executive Board in May of 2021.

Section 5310 Program and Eligibility Requirements

Section 5310 funds are available for capital and operating expenses to support the provision of transportation services to meet the specific needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Requirements are detailed in the March 2020 5310 Program Management Plan. All projects must either be situated in the Raleigh-Cary Urbanized Area or may originate in a rural area but must have the final destination situated in an urbanized area within the region to qualify for Section 5310 Urbanized Area funds.

At least 55 percent of any rural, small urbanized area, or large urbanized area’s annual apportionment must be utilized for public transportation capital projects that are planned, designed, and carried out to meet the specific needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. 

In addition to the above required capital projects, up to 45 percent of an area’s apportionment may be utilized for additional public transportation projects that:

• Exceed the ADA minimum requirements,
• Improve access to fixed-route service and decrease reliance by persons with disabilities on ADA-complementary paratransit service, or
• Provide alternatives to public transportation that assist elderly persons and persons with disabilities with transportation.

Such projects must be targeted toward meeting the transportation needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, although they may be used by the general public. The FTA encourages projects that are open to the public as a means of avoiding unnecessary segregation of services.