Dart will utilize formula 5307 funds for the following projects: rehabilitation and renovation of portions of its administration building (dart central station) and its maintenance facility;…

This $24,700,662 Federal Transit Formula Grant (CFDA 20.507) awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to the Des Moines Regional Transit Authority (DART) will fund several key projects and activities. The primary focus areas include:

• Rehabilitation and renovation of DART's administration building (DART Central Station) and maintenance facility
• Architecture and engineering services to support the facility renovation projects
• A short-range transportation planning study
• Continued lease of 19 buses from 2016
• Preventive maintenance for DART's vehicle fleet
• Safety and security projects
• Operating support

Additionally, the grant will provide funding for the purchase of replacement rolling stock, utilizing $1,410,200 in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds in FY2022, $1,400,000 in FY2023, and $1,355,200 in FY2024. The grant will also leverage $3,600,000 in FHWA Congestion Relief Program (CRP) funds in FY2024 for additional vehicle purchases.

Activities

Dart will utilize formula 5307 funds for the following projects: rehabilitation and renovation of portions of its administration building (dart central station) and its maintenance facility; architecture and engineering services to support the rehab/renovation projects; a short range transportation planning study; continue lease of 19 buses from 2016; charge eligible expenses for preventive maintenance for vehicles; safety and security projects; operating support.there is a total of 13 heavy-duty buses being replaced on this grant. Three (3) of the buses will be less than 30 heavy-duty models. Ten (10) of the buses will be 40 heavy-duty models. Six buses are replacements for vehicles that have met their useful life and are coming out of service or moving to the contingency fleet. 7 of the vehicles have not met their useful life but FTA has granted a waiver for early disposition. Waiver documentation is attached as part of this application.federal funding is being applied on the ADA buses at 80% due to the funding source for all buses being flexed from federal highway (funding stipulation).in addition to ftas buy america requirements under 49 U.S.C. 5323 (j) and 49 CFR part 661 which require that the steel iron and manufactured goods used in an FTA-funded project are produced in the united states the build america buy america act (baba) (public law 117-58 DIV. G 70914(a)) now requires that the construction materials used in infrastructure projects are also produced in the united states. Refer to terms and conditions in ftas master agreement section 15. The baba requirements for construction materials applies to this grant in addition to the buy america requirements except to the extent a waiver of either requirements may apply.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcomes of these grant activities include improved safety schedule (on-time performance) and reliability of the fleet from the replacement and continuation of the bus lease. The replacement of revenue vehicles and miscellaneous shop equipment will help ensure that the fleet and facilities are maintained to be able to meet our goals relating to state of good repair and transit asset management.

Intended beneficiaries

These projects will benefit transit riders in the greater DES moines metropolitan area (darts service area).

Subrecipient activities

There are no subrecipient activities on this grant.