Program F: Public Transportation

Return to the main page | Previous document

Program F: Public Transportation

Program Authorization: R.S. 36:501

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Public Transportation Program is to provide for cost-effective and efficient management of various federally funded programs in order to maximize the benefits of such programs to Louisiana citizens. Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) funds are used to purchase vehicles for the rural/elderly and handicapped population and to help defray operating expenses for these vehicles. This program allows disadvantaged persons access to places of employment, education, recreation, and medical facilities. This program also plans for the future of rail transportation in the state. The goal of this program is to provide Louisiana with economical, efficient, and effective transportation systems in the public transit and rail transportation modes. This program has only one activity, Public Transportation.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. In FY 1998-99, the Public Transportation Program will provide financial support, oversight, training and other services to enable local transportation providers of service to rural areas and to elderly and disabled persons to provide over 1.8 million passenger trips.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with Fees and Self-Generated Revenues, Statutory Dedications, and Federal Funds. The State Legislature appropriated additional funding for the Public Transportation Program in Section 20-903 (Parish Transportation Program - Mass Transportation) of Act 17 of 1996. These funds were transferred via a mid year adjustment as an Interagency Transfer to this program. Fees and Self-Generated Revenues are the local match for federal funds received from various users. The Statutory Dedications are from the Transportation Trust Fund-Regular. (Per R.S. 39:32B. (8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) The Federal Funds consist of Federal Railroad Administration funds used to rehabilitate tracks, and Federal Transit Administration funds used to purchase vehicles as well as provide operational costs to local agencies that provide transportation for the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND	TOTAL	T.O.	DESCRIPTION

$0	$6,688,895	10	ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

			BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:
$0	$2,683,046	0	Carryforward BA-7's to fund Aid to Local Governments
$0	$214,286	0	BA-7 #197 for Mass Transit Program funding

$0	$9,586,227	10	EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 10, 1997

$0	($2,683,046)	0	Nonrecurring Carryforwards to reduce funding for Aid to Local Governments
$0	$10,200	0	Equipment/Major Repairs Adjustment(s)
$0	$13,718	0	Annualization of 1997-'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)
$0	($2,160)	0	Retirement Rate Adjustment(s)
$0	($3,704)	0	Reductions in various Expenditure Categories; Including Reductions to fully fund Salaries
$0	$0	0	Means of Financing substitution(s) from Fees and Self-Generated: local agencies are no longer putting additional supplemental amounts over the required 20% match to Federal funds and Transportation Trust Fund Regular is due when employees are on leave
$0	$875,000	0	New/Expanded to purchase vehicles for the Rural Capital Assistance Program

$0	$7,796,235	10	TOTAL RECOMMENDED

$0	($1,789,992)	0	DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 81.3% of the existing operating budget. It represents 74.5% of the total request ($10,460,293) for this program. Reductions are primarily due to the following: nonrecurring of federal, local and state support for the purchase of vans, aid to local governments for transportation coordination needs study, regional transportation services and reductions in various expenditure categories based on historical spending. This program does not have positions that were vacant for 1 year or more.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

$20,000		Section 18 Grants Management (Database Study) to collect data and develop indicators of efficiency and effectiveness of transit vehicles in use in rural areas
$50,000		To provide training and technical assistance (workshops, newsletters, computer training, etc.) to transit providers to ensure compliance with federal requirements
$125,126		Passenger Rail Study to develop a plan for implementation of passenger/commuter rail service
$55,000		Section 9 Grants Management Database Study to collect data and develop indicators of efficiency and effectiveness of transits vans used in urban areas
$50,000		Statewide Coordination Opportunity Plan Study to perform a statewide assessment of transportation providers and needs in rural areas
$274,823		Urban transportation needs study

$574,949		TOTAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

$438,000		Assistance to Metropolitan Planning Organizations for transit planning with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants
$2,267,002		Provide specially equipped vehicles for elderly and disabled with FTA grants
$2,700,665		Operating assistance to rural transit providers with FTA grants
$1,349,286		Capital assistance to rural transit providers with FTA grants

$6,754,953		TOTAL OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

$11,500		CD Rom drive upgrades for 4 computers. Current equipment is obsolete. The Federal Transit Administration provides information on CD-Rom

$11,500		TOTAL ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

Return to the main page | Previous document