§5314 Technical assistance and workforce development

Summary

The Secretary can give grants and sign contracts to help public transit agencies run better, follow federal rules, and improve service. The help can be technical support and creating voluntary industry standards and best practices for things like safety, fares, technology, accessibility, buying equipment, security, upkeep of assets, operations, maintenance, vehicle engines, communications, and electronics. The Secretary may competitively hire national nonprofit groups to provide help with ADA compliance, coordinating human services transportation, serving older people, increasing ridership with development near stations, addressing equity for low-income and minority riders, improving bus driver safety, meeting the requirements of sections 5323(j) and 5323(m), supporting low- or no-emission vehicles or parts, and other needed technical assistance. Every year, not later than the first Monday in February, the Secretary must report to several Congressional committees with a list of projects funded, evaluations, proposed allocations for the next year, and measurable results for programs in subsections (b) and (c). The federal share of grant costs may not be more than 80 percent, and nonfederal matching funds can include in-kind contributions. The Secretary may also run or fund workforce programs for public transit. These can include job training, outreach to veterans, women, people with disabilities, and minorities (including American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asian, Black or African American, native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics), research on staffing needs, business opportunity training, and national training standards. There must be a competitive grant program to support apprenticeships, on-the-job training, partnerships with operators, unions, workforce boards, schools, and safety improvements, including training for low- or no-emission vehicle maintenance. Grant winners should be geographically diverse and serve large and small, urban and rural systems, focus on high-unemployment and underserved areas, and report outcomes like reduced workforce shortages, participant diversity, certifications earned, job placement, retention, and wages. The Secretary must publish a Frontline Workforce Development report by December 31 each year. Federal support for these projects is generally 50 percent. Up to 0.5 percent of funds from sections 5307, 5337, and 5339 may be used, with Secretary approval, to pay up to 80 percent of eligible activities. The Secretary must also set up a national transit institute at a public four-year college to run training on planning, management, engineering, procurement, new technologies, emissions, accessibility, construction, maintenance, finance, safety, security, and related topics. Training for government-responsibility subjects must be free to States and local governments; other training may be paid by States with approval.