§5336 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

Federal transit money is split each year among cities and states by set percentages and simple formulas. First, 9.32 percent goes only to urban areas with fewer than 200,000 people. That small-area share is split half by simple population and half by population density. The other 90.68 percent goes to areas with 200,000 people or more and is divided into two big buckets: 33.29 percent for rail-type service (the law calls this “fixed guideway,” and it includes passenger ferries) and 66.71 percent for bus service. The rail bucket mostly divides money by vehicle miles (60%) and route miles (40%) with 95.61 percent of that 33.29 percent handled that way, and 4.39 percent based on passenger miles adjusted for operating cost. The bus bucket splits most money between very large areas (1,000,000 or more) and medium areas (200,000–999,999). For each size group, money is split 50% by bus vehicle miles, 25% by plain population, and 25% by density-weighted population. Another 9.2 percent of the bus bucket is given based on passenger miles adjusted for cost. The Secretary must treat at least 27 percent of a system’s outside-the-area miles as belonging to the recipient for some calculations, and a recipient’s apportionment won’t be cut if it reduces vehicle miles but keeps the same service and riders after showing efficiency. The Secretary must make and publish apportionments by the 10th day after the money is provided or by October 1, whichever is later. Governors can spend small-area money that has no designated recipient and may transfer funds between this program and a related rural program after talking with local officials. A designated recipient for a big area can send part of its money to the Governor to reassign. Transferred money keeps the same limits on capital and operating use. Money can be obligated for 5 years after the fiscal year it is apportioned; any unused funds after that must be added back to next year’s apportionments within 30 days. Of the annual pot, $30,000,000 is set aside for a special purpose, 3.07 percent is set aside for a low-income distribution, 3 percent goes to small-area high-performing places (based on six performance measures like passenger miles per vehicle mile and passengers per capita), 0.75 percent goes to State safety oversight grants, and the rest is split by the formulas above. The low-income set-aside gives 75 percent of those funds to areas of 200,000 or more and 25 percent to areas under 200,000, based on the number of eligible low-income people.

Title 49, §5336

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Of the amount apportioned under subsection (h)(5) to carry out section 5307—

(1)9.32 percent shall be apportioned each fiscal year only in urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 so that each of those areas is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(A)50 percent of the total amount apportioned multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 as shown in the most recent decennial census; and

(B)50 percent of the total amount apportioned multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile; and

(2)90.68 percent shall be apportioned each fiscal year only in urbanized areas with populations of at least 200,000 as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(b)(1)In this subsection, “fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles” and “fixed guideway directional route miles” include passenger ferry operations directly or under contract by the designated recipient.

(2)Of the amount apportioned under subsection (a)(2) of this section, 33.29 percent shall be apportioned as follows:

(A)95.61 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(i)60 percent of the 95.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the number of fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles attributable to the area, as established by the Secretary, divided by the total number of all fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles attributable to all areas; and

(ii)40 percent of the 95.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the number of fixed guideway directional route miles attributable to the area, established by the Secretary, divided by the total number of all fixed guideway directional route miles attributable to all areas.

(B)4.39 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(i)the number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger miles traveled multiplied by the number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in an area; divided by

(ii)the total number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger miles traveled multiplied by the total number of fixed guideway vehicle passenger miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in all areas.

(C)Under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, fixed guideway vehicle revenue or directional route miles, and passengers served on those miles, in an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000, where the miles and passengers served otherwise would be attributable to an urbanized area with a population of at least 1,000,000 in an adjacent State, are attributable to the governmental authority in the State in which the urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 is located. The authority is deemed an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 if the authority makes a contract for the service.

(D)A recipient’s apportionment under subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph may not be reduced if the recipient, after satisfying the Secretary that energy or operating efficiencies would be achieved, reduces vehicle revenue miles but provides the same frequency of revenue service to the same number of riders.

(E)For purposes of subparagraph (A) and section 5337(c)(3), the Secretary shall deem to be attributable to an urbanized area not less than 27 percent of the fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles or fixed guideway directional route miles in the public transportation system of a recipient that are located outside the urbanized area for which the recipient receives funds, in addition to the fixed guideway vehicle revenue miles or fixed guideway directional route miles of the recipient that are located inside the urbanized area.

(c)Of the amount apportioned under subsection (a)(2) of this section, 66.71 percent shall be apportioned as follows:

(1)90.8 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned as follows:

(A)73.39 percent of the 90.8 percent apportioned under this paragraph shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 1,000,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(i)50 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the total bus vehicle revenue miles operated in or directly serving the urbanized area divided by the total bus vehicle revenue miles attributable to all areas;

(ii)25 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all areas, as shown in the most recent decennial census; and

(iii)25 percent of the 73.39 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile.

(B)26.61 percent of the 90.8 percent apportioned under this paragraph shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999 is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(i)50 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the total bus vehicle revenue miles operated in or directly serving the urbanized area divided by the total bus vehicle revenue miles attributable to all areas;

(ii)25 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio equal to the population of the area divided by the total population of all areas, as shown by the most recent decennial census; and

(iii)25 percent of the 26.61 percent apportioned under this subparagraph multiplied by a ratio for the area based on population weighted by a factor, established by the Secretary, of the number of inhabitants in each square mile.

(2)9.2 percent of the total amount apportioned under this subsection shall be apportioned so that each urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 is entitled to receive an amount equal to—

(A)the number of bus passenger miles traveled multiplied by the number of bus passenger miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in an area; divided by

(B)the total number of bus passenger miles traveled multiplied by the total number of bus passenger miles traveled for each dollar of operating cost in all areas.

(d)The Secretary shall—

(1)apportion amounts appropriated under section 5338(a)(2)(C) of this title to carry out section 5307 of this title not later than the 10th day after the date the amounts are appropriated or October 1 of the fiscal year for which the amounts are appropriated, whichever is later; and

(2)publish apportionments of the amounts, including amounts attributable to each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 and amounts attributable to each State of a multistate urbanized area, on the apportionment date.

(e)The Governor of a State may expend in an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 an amount apportioned under this section that is not apportioned to a designated recipient.

(f)(1)The Governor of a State may transfer any part of the State’s apportionment under subsection (a)(1) of this section to supplement amounts apportioned to the State under section 5311(c)(3).11 See References in Text note below. The Governor may make a transfer only after consulting with responsible local officials and publicly owned operators of public transportation in each area for which the amount originally was apportioned under this section.

(2)The Governor of a State may transfer any part of the State’s apportionment under section 5311(c)(3)1 to supplement amounts apportioned to the State under subsection (a)(1) of this section.

(3)The Governor of a State may use throughout the State amounts of a State’s apportionment remaining available for obligation at the beginning of the 90-day period before the period of the availability of the amounts expires.

(4)A designated recipient for an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 may transfer a part of its apportionment under this section to the Governor of a State. The Governor shall distribute the transferred amounts to urbanized areas under this section.

(5)Capital and operating assistance limitations applicable to the original apportionment apply to amounts transferred under this subsection.

(g)An amount apportioned under this section may be obligated by the recipient for 5 years after the fiscal year in which the amount is apportioned. Not later than 30 days after the end of the 5-year period, an amount that is not obligated at the end of that period shall be added to the amount that may be apportioned under this section in the next fiscal year.

(h)Of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under section 5338(a)(2)(C)—

(1)$30,000,000 shall be set aside each fiscal year to carry out section 5307(h);

(2)3.07 percent shall be apportioned to urbanized areas in accordance with subsection (j);

(3)of amounts not apportioned under paragraphs (1) and (2), 3 percent shall be apportioned to urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 in accordance with subsection (i);

(4)0.75 percent shall be apportioned to eligible States for State safety oversight program grants in accordance with section 5329(e)(6); and

(5)any amount not apportioned under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) shall be apportioned to urbanized areas in accordance with subsections (a) through (c).

(i)(1)In this subsection, the following definitions apply:

(A)The term “eligible area” means an urbanized area with a population of less than 200,000 that meets or exceeds in one or more performance categories the industry average for all urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (c)(2).

(B)The term “performance category” means each of the following:

(i)Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue mile.

(ii)Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue hour.

(iii)Vehicle revenue miles per capita.

(iv)Vehicle revenue hours per capita.

(v)Passenger miles traveled per capita.

(vi)Passengers per capita.

(2)(A)The amount to be apportioned under subsection (h)(3) shall be apportioned among eligible areas in the ratio that—

(i)the number of performance categories for which each eligible area meets or exceeds the industry average in urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999; bears to

(ii)the aggregate number of performance categories for which all eligible areas meet or exceed the industry average in urbanized areas with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999.

(B)The Secretary shall calculate apportionments under this subsection for a fiscal year using data from the national transit database used to calculate apportionments for that fiscal year under this section.

(j)The amounts apportioned under subsection (h)(2) shall be apportioned among urbanized areas as follows:

(1)75 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among designated recipients for urbanized areas with a population of 200,000 or more in the ratio that—

(A)the number of eligible low-income individuals in each such urbanized area; bears to

(B)the number of eligible low-income individuals in all such urbanized areas.

(2)25 percent of the funds shall be apportioned among designated recipients for urbanized areas with a population of less than 200,000 in the ratio that—

(A)the number of eligible low-income individuals in each such urbanized area; bears to

(B)the number of eligible low-income individuals in all such urbanized areas.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5336(a)(1)49 App.:1607a(a)(1).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(a); added Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 303, 96 Stat. 2141; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 327(b), 101 Stat. 238; Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3013(a), 105 Stat. 2106. 49 App.:1607a(d).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(b)(1)–(3), (c)–(e)(1), (m)(2); added Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 303, 96 Stat. 2141, 2147; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 327(b), 101 Stat. 238. 5336(a)(2)49 App.:1607a(a)(2). 5336(b)(1)49 App.:1607a(b)(2) (last sentence). 5336(b)(2)(A)49 App.:1607a(b)(1), (2) (1st sentence). 5336(b)(2)(B)49 App.:1607a(b)(3) (1st sentence). 5336(b)(2)(C)49 App.:1607a(b)(2) (2d sentence), (3) (last sentence). 5336(b)(2)(D)49 App.:1607a(b)(2) (3d sentence). 5336(b)(2)(E)49 App.:1607a(b)(4).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(b)(4); added Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3013(b), 105 Stat. 2106. 5336(c)(1)49 App.:1607a(c)(1), (2), (d) (last sentence). 5336(c)(2)49 App.:1607a(c)(3). 5336(d)(1)49 App.:1607a (k)(2)(A).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(k)(2)(A); added Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 303, 96 Stat. 2145; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, §§ 312(c)(1), (2), 327(b), 101 Stat. 228, 238. 5336(d)(2)49 App.:1607a (k)(2)(B).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(k)(2)(B); added Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 312(c)(3), 101 Stat. 228; Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3013(i), 105 Stat. 2107. 49 App.:1607a (k)(2)(C).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(k)(2)(C); added Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 312(c)(3), 101 Stat. 228. 5336(e)49 App.:1607a(q).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(q); added Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, § 312(e), 101 Stat. 229. 5336(f)49 App.:1607a(m)(2). 5336(g)49 App.:1607a(n).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(n); added Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 303, 96 Stat. 2147; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, §§ 312(d), 327(b), 101 Stat. 229, 238. 5336(h)49 App.:1607a(t).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(t); added Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3013(k), 105 Stat. 2108. 5336(i)49 App.:1607a(o).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(o); added Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, § 303, 96 Stat. 2147; Apr. 2, 1987, Pub. L. 100–17, §§ 311, 327(b), 101 Stat. 228, 238. 5336(j)49 App.:1607a(e)(1). 5336(k)49 App.:1607a(s).July 9, 1964, Pub. L. 88–365, 78 Stat. 302, § 9(s); added Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, § 3013(j), 105 Stat. 2108. In this section, the word “apportioned” is substituted for “available”, “shall be available for expenditure”, “made available”, and “made available for expenditure” for clarity and consistency in this chapter. In subsection (a)(1), before subclause (A), the words “the sum of” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2)(D), the word “provided” is omitted as surplus. The words “is deemed” are substituted for “as if . . . were” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “directly or indirectly” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c)(1)(B), before clause (i), the words “of at least 200,000” are added for clarity. In subsection (d)(1)(D), the words “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence” and “each fiscal year” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(2), the words “Beginning on October 1, 1991” are omitted as executed. The words “paragraph (1) of this subsection” are substituted for “under this section that may be used for operating assistance by urbanized areas” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “(if any)” are omitted as surplus. The words “Secretary of Labor” are substituted for “Department of Labor” because of 29:551. The text of 49 App.:1607a(k)(2)(B) (2d sentence) is omitted as executed. The text of 49 App.:1607a(k)(2)(B) (last sentence) is omitted as surplus. In subsection (e)(1), the words “under section 5338(f) of this title” are added for clarity. The words “in accordance with the provisions of this section” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (e)(2), the words “established by the preceding sentence” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (g)(1) and (2), the word “part” is substituted for “amount” for clarity. In subsection (g)(4), the words “including areas of 200,000 or more population” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (h), the words “in each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1991” are omitted as obsolete. In subsection (i), the words “the close of” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (j), the references to section 5302(a)(8) and 5318 are added for clarity. The source provisions of section 5302(a)(8) and 5318, enacted by section 317 of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (Public Law 100–17, 101 Stat. 233), were not intended to come under the exclusion stated in 49 App.:1607a(e)(1). The words “condition, limitation, or other” and “for programs of projects” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (k), the text of 49 App.:1607a(s)(1) is omitted as obsolete. Pub. L. 104–287This amends 49:5336(b)(2) to clarify the restatement of 49 App.:1607a(b) by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 840).

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 5311(c)(3), referred to in subsec. (f)(1), (2), was redesignated section 5311(c)(4) by Pub. L. 117–58, div. C, § 30006(1)(A), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 900.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–58, § 30001(b)(3), struck out “, as defined in section 5302(4)” after “designated recipient”. Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 117–58, § 30015(a), substituted “paragraphs (1) and (2), 3 percent” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)— “(A) for fiscal years 2016 through 2018, 1.5 percent shall be apportioned to urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 in accordance with subsection (i); and “(B) for fiscal years 2019 and 2020, 2 percent”. Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 117–58, § 30015(b)(1), substituted “0.75 percent” for “0.5 percent”. 2015—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–94, § 3014(1), substituted “subsection (h)(5)” for “subsection (h)(4)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(2)(E). Pub. L. 114–94, § 3014(2), substituted “27 percent” for “22.27 percent”. Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 114–94, § 3014(3)(A), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1), which read as follows: “$30,000,000 for each fiscal year ending before

October 1, 2015, and $5,327,869 for the period beginning on