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TPO board votes to ask governor to designate CAC as FTA Section 5310 recipient
Summary
The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization executive board voted to ask the governor to designate CAC as the designated recipient for Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 funds, shifting day‑to‑day administration while retaining TPO oversight of project selection and the human service transportation coordination plan.
The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization executive board voted May 28 to ask the governor to designate CAC as the local recipient for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 funds, moving routine grant administration from the TPO to CAC while keeping project selection and planning responsibilities with the TPO.
The request will ask the governor to name CAC the designated recipient for Section 5310 funds that support transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. Doug, a TPO staff presenter, told the board the region currently receives about $850,000 a year through the program and that the TPO has administered the grants since the program’s consolidation into Section 5310 in 2013.
Board members were told CAC already manages FTA and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) grants, has passed federal reviews, and routinely administers similar programs that extend beyond Knox County. Doug said the TPO will continue to approve projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and adopt the human service transportation coordination plan; CAC would take on many day‑to‑day tasks such as preparing grants, inspecting awarded vehicles, and ensuring procurement compliance.
Doug described the program’s funding and matching structure, saying Section 5310 capital projects are traditionally funded with an 80% federal share and 20% local match and that operating and administrative rules limit how much may be used for noncapital purposes. He said the program requires that at least 55% of funding support vehicle procurement (vans) and that up to 10% may be used for administration. The presenter also noted TDOT historically participates in match for some projects.
The technical committee recommended the change. After a motion to approve, the executive board voted in favor and the motion carried.
The TPO and CAC staff will draft a transition agreement describing responsibilities and how the TPO will retain oversight of project selection and inclusion of funded projects in the TIP. The designation request to the governor is the next formal step; if approved, CAC would become the local designated recipient for this program but federal rules and TIP processes would still govern project approval and funding.
