Federal Transit Administration

US agency providing financial and technical assistance to public transport operators

Federal Transit Administration

Agency overview
Formed| July 9, 1964; 60 years ago (July 9, 1964)
Superseding agency|

* Urban Mass Transportation Administration

Jurisdiction| United States
Headquarters| 1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Agency executives|

* Veronica Vanterpool [1] (acting), Administrator
* Veronica Vanterpool[2], Deputy Administrator

Parent agency| Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Website| www.transit.dot.gov

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT. Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States, the FTA functions through Washington, D.C headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories. Until 1991, it was known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA).

Public transportation includes buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, monorail, passenger ferry boats, trolleys, inclined railways, and people movers. The federal government, through the FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees grants to state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. These providers are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with federal requirements, and the FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements.

## History

[edit]

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy sent a major transportation message to the U.S. Congress. It called for the establishment of a program of federal capital assistance for mass transportation. President Kennedy stated, "To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development. Our national welfare therefore requires the provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth."

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law, which passed the House by a vote of 212-129 and cleared the Senate 52–41, creating the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.[3] The agency was charged with providing federal assistance for mass transit projects, including an initial $375 million in capital assistance over three years as mandated by the act. In 1991, the agency was renamed the Federal Transit Administration.[4]

### Administrators

[edit]

The current acting Administrator is Veronica Vanterpool since February 24, 2024. Below is a list of past administrators.[5]

Administrator  | Term started  | Term ended

|
|

Paul L. Sitton | 1966  | 1969
Carlos C. Villarreal | 1969  | 1973
Frank C. Herringer | 1973  | 1975
Robert E. Patricelli | 1975  | 1977
Richard S. Page | 1977  | 1979
Theodore C. Lutz | 1979  | 1981
Arthur Teele | 1981  | 1983
Ralph L. Stanley | 1983  | 1987
Alfred A. DelliBovi | 1987  | 1989
Brian H. Clymer | 1989  | 1993
Gordon Linton | 1993  | 1999
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting)  | 1999  | 2001
Hiram J. Walker (acting)  | 2001  | 2001
Jennifer L. Dorn | 2001  | 2006
James S. Simpson | June 2006  | December 2008
Sherry Little (acting)  | 2008  | 2009
Matthew Welbes (acting)  | 2009  | 2009
Peter Rogoff | May 2009  | January 2014
Therese McMillan (acting)  | January 2014  | March 31, 2016
Carolyn Flowers (acting)  | April 1, 2016  | January 20, 2017
Matthew Welbes (acting)  | January 20, 2017  | August 2017
K. Jane Williams (acting)  | August 2017  | January 20, 2021
Nuria I. Fernandez (acting)  | January 20, 2021  | June 10, 2021
Nuria I. Fernandez | June 10, 2021  | February 24, 2024
Veronica Vanterpool (acting)  | February 24, 2024  | Incumbent

## Notable programs

[edit]

* Metropolitan & Statewide Planning[6]
* Urbanized Formula Funding[7]
* Clean Fuels Grant Program[8]
* Major Capital Investments[9]
* Fixed Guideway Modernization[10]
* Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities[11]
* Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas[12]
* Public Transportation on Indian Reservations[13]
* Rural Transit Assistance Program[14]
* Transit Cooperative Research Program[15]
* National Research & Technology Program[16]
* Job Access and Reverse Commute Program[17]
* New Freedom Program[18]
* Bus and Bus Facilities[19]
* Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program[20]
* Alternatives Analysis[21]
* University Transportation Centers Program[22]
* Over-the-Road Bus Program[23]
* BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development), formerly TIGER (Transit Investment Generating Economic Recovery)[24][25]
* Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program[26]
* Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program[27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Government Officials at the US Department of Transportation". US Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
2. ^ "Federal Transit Administration Announces Veronica Vanterpool as Deputy Administrator | FTA". www.transit.dot.gov. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
3. ^ "The Beginnings of Federal Assistance for Public Transportation". Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
4. ^ "Urban Transportation Planning In the United States: An Historical Overview". U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
5. ^ "Heads of the Operating Administrations, U.S. Department of Transportation". Office of the Historian, U.S. DOT. March 1, 2009. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
6. ^ Metropolitan & Statewide Planning (5303, 5304, 5305)[permanent dead link]. Federal Transit Administration.
7. ^ Urbanized Formula Funding (5307). Federal Transit Administration.
8. ^ Clean Fuels Grant Program (5308) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
9. ^ Major Capital Investments (New Starts & Small Starts) (5309(b)(1)) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
10. ^ Fixed Guideway Modernization (5309 (b)(2)) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
11. ^ Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities (5310)[permanent dead link]. Federal Transit Administration.
12. ^ Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas (5311) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
13. ^ Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (5311(c)). Federal Transit Administration.. Federal Transit Administration.
14. ^ Rural Transit Assistance Program (5311(b)(3))[permanent dead link]. Federal Transit Administration.
15. ^ Transit Cooperative Research Program (5313) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
16. ^ National Research & Technology Program (5314)[permanent dead link]. Federal Transit Administration.
17. ^ Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (5316) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
18. ^ New Freedom Program (5317) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
19. ^ Bus and Bus Facilities (5309, 5318) Archived 2018-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
20. ^ Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program (5320) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
21. ^ Alternatives Analysis (5339) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
22. ^ University Transportation Centers Program (TEA-21 5505) Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
23. ^ Over-the-Road Bus Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
24. ^ "Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants Program (formerly TIGER)". United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
25. ^ TIGER (USDOT)[permanent dead link]. Federal Transit Administration.
26. ^ TIGGER Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.
27. ^ Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program Archived 2022-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Transit Administration.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
* Federal Transit Administration in the Federal Register

* v
* t
* e

United States Department of Transportation

* Headquarters: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE (Transportation Department Building)

* Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation
* Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Deputy Secretary of Transportation|

* Federal Aviation Administration
* Federal Highway Administration
* Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
* Federal Railroad Administration
* Federal Transit Administration
* Maritime Administration
* National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
* Office of Inspector General
* Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
* Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy|

* Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy
* Office of the Chief Economist
* Office of Policy Development, Strategic Planning and Performance
* Office of Infrastructure Finance and Innovation
* Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs
* Office of International Transportation and Trade
* Office of International Aviation
* Office of Aviation Analysis
* Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
* Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
* Transportation Safety Institute
* National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau
* Build America Bureau
* Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer

* v
* t
* e

Lyndon B. Johnson

* 36th President of the United States (1963–1969)
* 37th Vice President of the United States (1961–1963)
* U.S. Senator from Texas (1949–1961)
* U.S. Representative for TX–10 (1937–1949)

Presidency
(timeline)|

* 1963 inauguration
* Let Us Continue
* 1965 inauguration
* White House preservation
* State of the Union Address
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* Cabinet
* Judicial appointments
* Supreme Court
* Thurgood Marshall Supreme Court nomination
* controversies
* Johnson desk
* Nixon transition
* Executive Orders
* Presidential Proclamations
* Meritorious Service Medal

| Foreign policy|

* Johnson Doctrine
* Dominican Republic occupation
* Vietnam War
* Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
* "Credibility gap"
* Glassboro Summit
* Outer Space Treaty
* Operation CHAOS

|

Domestic policy|

* Administrative Conference of the United States (1964)
* Cannabis policy
* Civil Rights Act of 1964
* Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
* Executive Order 11246 (1965)
* Flood Control Act of 1965
* Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
* Voting Rights Act of 1965
* Child Nutrition Act
* 1966; School Breakfast Program
* Uniform Time Act (1966)
* White House Conference on Civil Rights (1966)
* Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
* Executive Order 11375 (1967)
* Civil Rights Act of 1968
* Gun Control Act of 1968
* Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968
* Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

Economic policy|

* Revenue Act of 1964
* Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964
* Urban Mass Transportation Administration
* Coinage Act of 1965
* Food and Agriculture Act of 1965
* High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965
* U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965)
* Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (1966)
* Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (1966)
* National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1966)
* Tax Adjustment Act of 1966
* Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967
* U.S. Department of Transportation (1967)
* Wholesome Meat Act (1967)
* Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
* Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1968
* Truth in Lending Act
* Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968
* Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968
* Ginnie Mae
* National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
* National Flood Insurance Program
* Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968
* Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968
* Williams Act (1968)

Environmental
policy|

* Wilderness Act (1964)
* Land and Water Conservation Fund (1965)
* Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965
* Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965
* Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965
* Clean Waters Restoration Act (1966)
* National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
* Air Quality Act of 1967
* National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (1968)

Great Society/
War on Poverty|

* Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
* Community Action Agencies
* Head Start
* Job Corps
* Office of Economic Opportunity
* Food Stamp Act of 1964
* Food Stamp Program
* AmeriCorps VISTA (1965)
* Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965)
* Higher Education Act of 1965
* FAFSA
* Federal Family Education Loan Program
* Federal Work-Study Program
* Pell Grant
* Stafford Loan
* Student loans in the United States
* Teacher Corps
* TRIO
* Upward Bound
* National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
* 1965; National Endowment for the Arts
* National Endowment for the Humanities
* Older Americans Act (1965)
* Administration on Aging
* Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965
* Economic Development Administration
* Social Security Amendments of 1965
* Medicare
* Medicaid
* Model Cities Program (1966)
* National Historic Preservation Act
* 1966; National Register of Historic Places
* National Historic Landmark
* State Historic Preservation Office
* Bilingual Education Act (1967)
* Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
* Corporation for Public Broadcasting
* PBS
* NPR

Life|

* Early years and career
* 1956 Southern Manifesto
* Civil Rights Act of 1957
* Civil Rights Act of 1960
* Operation Texas
* Texas Broadcasting Company
* Johnson Amendment
* Box 13 scandal
* Bashir Ahmad

Legacy and
memorials|

* Bibliography
* Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
* Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
* Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
* Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
* Lyndon Baines Johnson Day
* Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
* Memorial Grove on the Potomac
* U.S. Postage stamp

Elections|

* United States House of Representatives special elections, 1937
* 1938 United States House of Representatives elections
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* United States Senate special elections, 1941
* 1948 United States Senate elections
* 1954
* 1960
* Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1960
* 1964
* campaign
* 1968
* withdrawal
* Democratic National Convention 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1960 United States presidential election
* 1964

Public image|

* Lyndon B. Johnson in popular culture
* Daisy advertisement
* Johnson cult
* The Years of Lyndon Johnson
* LBJ (1991 television film)
* Path to War (2002 film)
* All the Way (2012 play, 2016 film)
* Selma (2014 film)
* LBJ (2017 film)

Family|

* Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson (wife)
* Lynda Bird Johnson Robb (daughter)
* Luci Baines Johnson (daughter)
* Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. (father)
* Sam Houston Johnson (brother)
* Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr. (grandfather)
* Joseph Wilson Baines (grandfather)
* George Washington Baines (great-grandfather)
* Chuck Robb (son-in-law)

* ← John F. Kennedy
* Richard Nixon →

* ← Richard Nixon
* Hubert Humphrey →

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

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