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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 149 / Friday, August 6, 2021 / Notices
smog, and unhealthy ozone concentrations. Applicants should also demonstrate how the proposed ferries or infrastructure will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from transit vehicle operations.
Applicants should address how the ferry service to be supported by the proposed project is integrated with other regional modes of transportation, including but not limited to: Rail, bus, intercity bus, and private transportation providers. Supporting documentation should include data that demonstrates the number of trips passengers and vehicles, the number of walk-on passengers, and the frequency of transfers to other modes if applicable.

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c. Planning and Local/Regional Prioritization Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project is consistent with local and regional planning documents and identified priorities. This will involve assessing whether the project is consistent with the transit priorities identified in the long-range transportation plan and the State and Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program STIP/TIP.
Applicants should note if the project could not be included in the financially constrained STIP or TIP due to lack of funding, and if selected that the project can be added to the federally approved STIP before grant award.
FTA encourages applicants to demonstrate local support by including letters of support from State Departments of Transportation, local transit agencies, local government officials and public agencies, local nonprofit or private sector organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. In an area with both ferry and other public transit operators, FTA will evaluate whether project proposals demonstrate coordination with and support of other related projects within the applicants Metropolitan Planning Organization MPO or the geographic region within which the proposed project will operate.
d. Local Financial Commitment Applicants must identify the source of the local cost share and describe whether such funds are currently available for the project or will need to be secured if the project is selected for funding. FTA will consider the availability of the local cost share as evidence of local financial commitment to the project. Additional consideration will be given to those projects for which local funds have already been made available or reserved. Applicants should submit evidence of the availability of funds for the project, by including, for
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example, a board resolution, letter of support from the State, or other documentation of the source of local funds such as a budget document highlighting the line item or section committing funds to the proposed project.
An applicant may provide documentation of previous local investments in the project, which cannot be used to satisfy local matching requirements, as evidence of local financial commitment.
Applicants that request a Federal share greater than 80 percent must clearly explain why the project is eligible for the proposed Federal share.
e. Project Implementation Strategy Projects will be evaluated based on the extent to which the project is ready to implement within a reasonable period of time and whether the applicants proposed implementation plans are reasonable and complete.
In assessing whether the project is ready to implement within a reasonable period of time, FTA will consider whether the project qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion, or whether the required environmental work has been initiated or completed for projects that require an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. As such, applicants should submit information describing the projects anticipated path and timeline through the environmental review process. The proposal must also state whether grant funds can be obligated within 12 months from time of award, if selected, and the timeframe under which the Metropolitan TIP and/or STIP
can be amended to include the proposed project. Additional consideration will be given to projects for which grant funds can be obligated within 12
months from time of award.
In assessing whether the proposed implementation plans are reasonable and complete, FTA will review the proposed project implementation plan, including all necessary project milestones and the overall project timeline. For projects that will require formal coordination, approvals, or permits from other agencies or project partners, the applicant must demonstrate coordination with these organizations and their support for the project, such as through letters of support.
f. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity Applicants must demonstrate that they have the technical, legal, and financial capacity to undertake the
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project. FTA will review relevant oversight assessments and records to determine whether there are any outstanding legal, technical, or financial issues with the applicant that would affect the outcome of the proposed project.
Applicants with outstanding legal, technical, or financial compliance issues from an FTA compliance review or FTA grant-related Single Audit finding must explain how corrective actions taken will mitigate negative impacts on the project.
2. Review and Selection Process FTA technical evaluation committees will evaluate proposals using the project evaluation criteria. Members of the technical evaluation committees and other FTA staff may request additional information from applicants, if necessary. After consideration of the findings of the technical evaluation committees, FTA will determine the final selection of projects for program funding. In determining the allocation of program funds, FTA may consider geographic diversity, diversity in the size of the transit systems receiving funding, and the applicants receipt of other competitive awards. FTA will also consider whether the project will include low or zero-emission ferries or ferries using electric battery or fuel cell components and the infrastructure to support such ferries. FTA may consider capping the amount a single applicant may receive. After applying the above criteria, in support of the Presidents January 20, 2021, Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, the FTA
Administrator will give priority consideration to applications that are expected to create significant community benefits relating to the environment, including those projects that incorporate low or no emission technology. FTA seeks to select projects that have considered climate change and environmental justice in the planning stage and were designed with specific elements to address climate change impacts. Projects should directly support Climate Action Plans or apply environmental justice screening tools in the planning stage. As stated in this NOFO, of the $38 million, $4 million is available only for low or zero-emission ferries or ferries using electric battery or fuel cell components and the infrastructure to support such ferries.
Projects should include components that reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency, incorporate electrification or zero emission vehicle infrastructure,
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