FTA gives transit agencies a break from certain rules during pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week announced new actions to improve access to grant funding and provide relief from certain federal regulations and administrative rules.

Specifically, the agency will extend access to emergency relief funding for operations and allow more time for transit agencies to meet regulatory requirements for the Public Transportation Agency  Safety Plan (PTASP), Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) regulations, as well as several reporting and compliance reviews, FTA officials said in a press release.

The FTA has extended eligibility for formula funding under the Emergency Relief Program to be used for paying operating expenses. Funding may now cover operating expenses related to COVID-19 recovery through Jan. 20, 2022, at 100% federal share, FTA officials said in a press release.

In addition, the FRA issued two notices of enforcement discretion:
• advising FTA grantees that it will not take enforcement action for the PTASP regulation until July 21, 2021; and
• advising FTA grantees that it will not take enforcement action against grantees subject to the PTSCTP regulation training requirements until Aug. 21, 2022.