New Freedom Program

The New Freedom program (Section 5317) provided grants for new capital and operating projects aimed at reducing, beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, transportation barriers faced by individuals with disabilities to

The New Freedom program (Section 5317) provided grants for new capital and operating projects aimed at reducing, beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, transportation barriers faced by individuals with disabilities to expand mobility through transportation, including transportation to and from jobs and employment support services. The New Freedom Program was repealed under MAP-21; however, New Freedom type projects are eligible for funding under the new Section 5310 Program (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program - Circular FTA C 9070.1H).

The chief executive officer of each State or an official designee must designate a public entity to be the recipient for New Freedom funds. In urbanized areas with populations less than 200,000 and in non-urbanized areas, the State is the designated recipient. For these areas, the chief executive officer of a State designates a State agency responsible for administering the New Freedom Program, and officially notifies the appropriate Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regional office in writing of that designation. The chief executive officer of a State may designate the State agency that receives Other Than Urbanized Area (Non-urbanized Area, Section 5311) and/or the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) Program funds to be the New Freedom recipient, or the chief executive officer of a State may designate a different agency. In urbanized areas over 200,000 in population, the recipient charged with administering the New Freedom Program must be officially designated through a process consistent with 49 U.S.C. 5307(a)(2): an entity designated in accordance with the planning process under Sections 5303, 5304, and 5306, by the chief executive officer of a State, responsible local officials, and publicly owned operators of public transportation, to receive and apportion amounts under Section 5336 that are attributable to transportation management areas identified under Section 5303.

Individuals with Disabilities.

To be eligible, a project had to either be a new public transportation service or a public transportation alternative beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the project must assist individuals with disabilities with transportation, including transportation to and from jobs and employment support services. Capital and operating expenses for projects that meet the purpose of the statute are eligible to be funded. The recipient may use up to 10 percent of apportioned funds for administration, planning, and technical assistance.

The period of time New Freedom Program funds are available is three years from year of allocation. Terms and conditions are delineated in the grant agreement. Funds are awarded using an electronic financial management system as funds are expended and invoices received.

Per Congressional designation, project must be 'new'. For the purpose of the New Freedom Program, "new" service is any service or activity that was not operational on August 10, 2005, and did not have an identified funding source as of August 10, 2005, as evidenced by inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) or the STIP. Recipients must conduct a competition to determine which projects should be funded and publically available and transparent information in the state management plan that describes how the recipient will manage and oversee projects. The competitive process and selection criteria must be clear and transparent to the public. Recipient must also certify that all projects are derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan developed through a process that consists of representatives of public, private, and non-profit transportation and human services providers with participation by the public.

The New Freedom Program has been repealed. No funding will be appropriated in FY 2014 or beyond. For previously awarded FTA New Freedom grants, awards and funds are obligated in an electronic grant agreement. The recipient must execute the grant agreement, and access FTA's electronic funds management system; the funds management system allows the grantee to drawdown funds after invoices are received. The grantee directs funds to subrecipients.

It is a goal of the Federal Transit Administration to obligate grants within 36 days of the submission of a complete grant application.

Prior to the New Freedom Program being repealed, funds were appropriated annually. Grants may be amended to add project continuations.