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TPO technical committee recommends federal transit allocations, approves projects for seniors and people with disabilities
Summary
The TPO technical committee approved recommendations on federal FTA formula and bus funding and accepted applications under the Section 5310 program, forwarding the urban-area program to the executive board and approving local 5310 awards.
At its Sept. 9 Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) technical committee meeting in Knoxville, members approved recommendations for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) urban-area program and accepted local applications under the Section 5310 program for enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
The committee voted to recommend the FTA urban-area program of projects to the TPO executive board. Doug Burton, TPO coordinator, said the urban-area formula funding (federal fiscal year starting Oct. 1) arriving to the region totals $8.9 million for the 2025 federal fiscal year — about $174,000 more than the prior year. Burton said the City of Knoxville is the designated recipient for the program and that the local formula split agreed among providers gives 79.8% to CAAT (City-Area Transit), 14.9% to CAC and 5.3% to ETHRA; those percentages translate roughly to $7.1 million for CAAT, $1.3 million for CAC and about $472,000 for ETHRA under the FY25 allocation. The funds may be used for capital and operating purposes according to FTA categories, Burton said.
The committee also reviewed the FTA bus-and-bus-facilities allocation for FY25 (reported as $756,000) that can only be used by fixed-route providers; Burton said CAT (City of Knoxville Transit) is the sole fixed-route provider in the urban area and would receive that funding for vehicle purchases, shelters, shop equipment and mobile fare collection work.
Jonah Byrd, TPO staff, presented the Section 5310 enhanced-mobility-of-seniors-and-individuals-with-disabilities program results. Byrd said the FY25 5310 allocation managed this year by CAC totals $837,858 (a small decrease of roughly $6,000). Byrd reported that three agencies applied for operating funds (CAC, ETHRA and CAA Smiles) and several agencies requested capital vans or mobility-management funding. He summarized that about $918,000 in FTA capital requests and roughly $580,000 in operating requests were received across applicants; the program requires a local/Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) match (Byrd said the TDOT match is typically 25% and TDOT often provides half the local match once FTA approves the grant).
Burton and Byrd noted that FTA requires a public hearing or public comment opportunity on these programs; the committee was informed comments would be accepted through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 (the day before the executive board meeting) or in person at the executive board meeting. Burton provided the TPO website (www.knoxtpo.org) and a TPO phone contact for more information.
Why it matters: These federal allocations fund bus service, paratransit, vans for nonprofit service providers, and other capital needs that support transit access for seniors, people with disabilities and commuters. The committee’s approvals move the programs forward for final action or award administration.
Questions and next steps: The committee made the recommendation for the urban-area formula to the executive board (the executive board will hold the public comment hearing); the 5310 awards will be administered through CAC as the designated recipient and according to FTA rules.
