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TAC approves FY2027 FTA Section 5310 and human services transportation recommendations; practice on abstentions discussed

Denver Regional Council of Governments Technical Advisory Committee · March 26, 2026

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Summary

DRCOG staff presented recommended projects for FTA Section 5310 and the Human Services Transportation set‑aside for FY2027, noting roughly $5.2M was available and 11 proposals asked for about $5.8M. The committee approved the recommended package by voice vote; members discussed the practice of abstaining when a reviewer’s jurisdiction is a potential recipient.

Travis Newton, manager of business operations for the Area Agency on Aging at DRCOG, presented recommended projects for the combined Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 program (DRCOG is the designated recipient for the Denver‑Aurora urbanized area) and DRCOG’s Human Services Transportation set‑aside for FY2027.

Newton said the program provides approximately $3,000,000 per year for specialized transit projects, capital, operating support and mobility management that benefit older adults and people with disabilities. He said the call for projects (released November 2025; closed January 2026) produced 11 proposals requesting about $5.8 million while about $5.2 million was available through the combined funding sources, including carryover.

Newton summarized the review process: an external stakeholder panel evaluated applications and recommended awards. He noted two applications were not recommended for funding: a mobility‑management request from the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (not eligible under CMAQ rules) and a VIA Mobility Services parking‑lot paving request that scored lower than capital replacement and operating projects.

Committee members raised process questions and discussed the longstanding practice of abstaining when a committee member’s own jurisdiction is a potential recipient; staff explained that federal partners cannot participate in project selection panels when federal funds are involved. Douglas County moved to recommend the slate to the RTC; the motion carried by voice vote with at least one abstention noted in the transcript. Newton said staff would provide the recommended motion in the packet and answer follow‑up questions as needed.

The committee approved the recommended awards and discussed next steps for formal RTC and board action.