Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5310 GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 funding awards totaling $10,752,739, as shown in Attachments A, B, and C, made available to Metro through the Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program;
B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or their designee to negotiate and execute pass-through funding agreements with the subrecipient agencies receiving the approved awards;
C. DELEGATING to the CEO or their designee authority to administratively approve minor changes to the scope of approved Section 5310 awards;
D. CERTIFYING that the Section 5310 funds are fairly and equitably allocated to eligible subrecipients and, where feasible, that projects are coordinated with transportation services assisted by other federal departments and agencies; and
E. CERTIFYING that the Section 5310 projects selected for funding are included in the Board-adopted 2025-2028 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan), in compliance with federal requirements.
Issue
ISSUE
The FTA apportions Section 5310 formula funding to Urbanized Areas (UZAs) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. As the Designated Recipient for the UZAs within Los Angeles County, Metro is responsible for administering these funds.
Following Board adoption of the 2025-2028 Coordinated Plan <https://metro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7479858&GUID=2C9B6E2A-9CC0-406E-A545-4189393476F8&Options=ID%7cText%7c&Search=2025-0475> and authorization to release the Section 5310 solicitation <https://metro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7660409&GUID=4AF34985-B57C-41B6-A2D9-2798033FF217&Options=ID|Text|&Search=2025-0610>, Metro conducted a competitive solicitation for the 2025 funding cycle. This report seeks Board approval of the funding awards resulting from the solicitation, as detailed in Attachments A, B, and C.
Background
BACKGROUND
The Section 5310 program is intended to enhance mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by reducing transportation barriers and expanding access to specialized transportation services. In California, the Governor designates a public entity to serve as the recipient of federal transportation formula funds. For Los Angeles County, Metro serves as the Designated Recipient for FTA Section 5310 funds apportioned to the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Lancaster-Palmdale, and Santa Clarita UZAs.
Funds apportioned to the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim UZA are shared among Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority, and Omnitrans, with each agency administering its respective service area. This UZA spans portions of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and a small area of San Bernardino County, with funds allocated based on the eligible population within each jurisdiction’s service area.
Every two to three years, Metro programs available Section 5310 funds through a combination of a competitive solicitation for eligible subrecipients, a formula-based allocation to Access Services, and funding for Metro’s program administration. The Metro Board reaffirmed this approach in 2025 by allocating Section 5310 funds to Access Services and approving the solicitation that informed these funding award recommendations.
As the Designated Recipient, Metro is responsible for the planning, programming, distribution, management, and oversight of these funds in accordance with federal requirements.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The FTA Section 5310 program provides capital and operating assistance to support public transportation projects that; a) are planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special needs of seniors (age 65 and older) and individuals with disabilities when public transportation is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable; b) exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; c) improve access to fixed route service and decrease reliance on ADA-complementary paratransit, and d) provide alternatives to public transportation projects for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Per federal requirements, all projects funded through this solicitation are required to align with the priorities identified in the 2025-2028 Coordinated Plan, as adopted by the Metro Board in July 2025.
Section 5310 funds may be used for traditional capital, other capital, and operating projects. Eligible applicants include: (1) private nonprofit organizations recognized under 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(a) or recognized as a nonprofit under State law with proper documentation; (2) state or local governmental authorities; and (3) operators of public transportation.
Funding Availability
Metro made a total of $10,752,739 in Section 5310 funds available through the competitive solicitation released on September 26, 2025. This amount consists of Federal Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 Section 5310 apportionments authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58).
Of this total, $10,218,282 was allocated to the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim UZA for a total of 22 awards out of 42 applications, $311,667 to the Lancaster-Palmdale UZA for the one application received, and $222,790 to the Santa Clarita UZA for the one application received.
Competitive Application Process
As the Designated Recipient, Metro allocates Section 5310 funds fairly and equitably to projects that demonstrate the greatest mobility need and potential benefit. This approach ensures effective use of federal funds and compliance with FTA requirements.
On September 26, 2025, Metro released the Board-approved 2025 Section 5310 Solicitation for Proposals. Applications were due on November 14, 2025. Eligible applicants were permitted to submit one or more applications across eligible funding categories, subject to a maximum request of $800,000 per applicant.
Applications were evaluated, scored, and ranked based on consistency with Section 5310 program eligibility, the priorities in the Board-adopted Coordinated Plan, and the evaluation criteria outlined in the solicitation, including projects within Metro’s Equity Focus Communities.
Solicitation Outreach
Metro implemented a robust outreach and engagement strategy to promote awareness of the funding opportunity and encourage broad participation throughout Los Angeles County. Outreach efforts built upon engagement conducted during development of the Coordinated Plan and included email notifications to more than 5,700 stakeholders, website postings, and targeted outreach to nonprofit organizations serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Solicitation notices were also shared with all Los Angeles County Councils of Governments and presented to Metro advisory subcommittees, including the Bus Operations Subcommittee, Local Transit Systems Subcommittee, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Aging and Disability Transportation Network, and Streets & Freeways Subcommittee. In addition, 11 community-based organizations that participated in the Coordinated Plan process assisted in publicizing the opportunity through their networks.
Metro also hosted a potential applicant webinar on October 7, 2025, attended by more than 56 participants representing all five Los Angeles County Supervisorial Districts. This webinar provided an overview of eligibility requirements, the application process, post-award compliance expectations, and an opportunity for questions.
Evaluation of Proposals
Metro received 42 applications requesting more than $19.6 million in federal funding. Applications were evaluated by a panel of internal and external reviewers using the Board-approved evaluation criteria included in Attachment D.
Project rankings were established based on the average scores assigned by panel members. Funding awards were made based on the applicants' requested amounts, not to exceed $800,000 per applicant, and allocated to projects ranked from highest to lowest until funds were committed. A minimum score of 70 points was required for a project to be considered eligible for funding. Final project rankings are presented in Attachments A, B, and C.
Preliminary Funding Recommendations and TAC Appeals
On January 9, 2026, Metro issued preliminary funding recommendations representing approximately 95 percent of the available Section 5310 funds. The remaining $510,914 was reserved for the Metro Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) appeals process.
On February 4, 2026, TAC heard appeal presentations from the Pomona Valley Transportation Authority, ARC Los Angeles & Orange Counties, and the City of Glendale. These eligible applicants met the minimum score threshold but were not initially recommended for funding due to funding constraints. Following the appeal presentations, TAC approved a motion recommending that the Pomona Valley Transportation Authority receive set-aside funds to support two years of its proposed operating project, compared to the three years requested, and that the remaining set-aside amount be split evenly between ARC Los Angeles & Orange Counties and the City of Glendale to support a portion of their requested replacement vehicles. Metro staff incorporated TAC’s recommendations into the final funding determinations.
The recommended funding awards presented in Attachments A, B, and C reflect the results of the competitive solicitation and TAC appeals process. The recommended awards collectively represent all five Los Angeles County Supervisorial Districts, providing broad geographic coverage and countywide benefits.
Administrative Scope Changes
Grant subrecipients may request re-scoping of their project(s) from what is approved by the Board. The proposed recommendation will delegate to the CEO or their designee authority to administratively approve minor changes to the scope of work. Minor changes include those that meet all of the following criteria: 1) The scope change is consistent with defined project limits approved by the Board; 2) the scope of work, as modified, continues to meet the original intent of the approved project scope; 3) if the scope change results in a reduced total project cost, the new total project cost shall be within 20% of the original total project cost; and 4) the parties shall maintain the original grant-to-grantee funding commitment ratio (for example, if the grantee originally committed 20% of the total project cost, with the remaining 80% comprised of Section 5310 funds, those percentages shall apply to the new total project cost).
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of the recommendation will have no impact on the safety of Metro’s customers and employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to Metro for FY 2026. As these are multi-year projects, the Cost Center Manager for 0441 (Subsidies to Others) and the Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for including the necessary budget in future years. The Section 5310 funds must be obligated by the end of FY 2026 to avoid lapsing. Project number 500005.
Impact to Budget
All recommended actions will be fully funded by FTA Section 5310 program funds and awardee local match funds. No other Metro funds will be required. Section 5310 funds are not eligible for Metro’s bus and rail operating and capital expenditures.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The 2025 Section 5310 Competitive Solicitation process and resulting funding awards aligned with and advanced Metro’s Equity Platform through the application of three core pillars: Define and Measure, Listen and Learn, and Focus and Deliver. The planning, outreach, evaluation, and award determination for this funding opportunity demonstrated Metro’s continued commitment to equitable access to mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
In alignment with Define and Measure, the Section 5310 program incorporated equity-based analyses into the solicitation and evaluation process, including ZIP Code-level demographic mapping and the prioritization of designated Equity Focus Communities (EFCs), to identify areas with the greatest unmet transportation needs. These areas include low-income neighborhoods and communities of color with high concentrations of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The application evaluation criteria explicitly rewarded projects proposing continued, new, enhanced, or expanded services in EFCs, reinforcing Metro’s commitment to communities with the greatest need.
Consistent with Listen and Learn, outreach for the funding opportunity built upon extensive community engagement conducted during the development of the 2025-2028 Coordinated Plan. Metro conducted targeted outreach through multiple channels, including email notifications to more than 5,700 active stakeholders, postings on the Section 5310 page of Metro’s website, and direct outreach to nonprofit organizations that serve seniors and individuals with disabilities. The solicitation was also shared with Metro advisory subcommittees, Los Angeles County Councils of Governments, and 11 community-based organizations that supported public engagement during the Coordinated Plan process. These organizations, which serve a broad range of equity priority populations and geographic areas, helped expand awareness of the funding opportunity and encourage broad participation.
Through Focus and Deliver, the Section 5310 solicitation applied a prioritized project framework that directed funding toward services with the greatest potential to close mobility gaps for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Evaluation criteria emphasized projects that improved geographic coverage, service quality, and access to opportunities, particularly in underserved communities. By funding projects that aligned with community-identified priorities in the Board-adopted Coordinated Plan, Metro advanced its goal of reducing transportation disparities and improving quality of life in underserved areas.
Vehicle Miles Traveled Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
While the agency remains committed to reducing VMT through transit and multimodal investments, some projects may induce or increase personal vehicle travel. However, these individual projects aim to ensure the efficient and safe movement of people, goods, and communities with unique transportation needs
This Board item will likely increase VMT in Los Angeles County, as it includes funding awards for projects that implement new, enhanced, and expanded on-demand, door-to-door, and other demand-responsive transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. These specialized transportation services often involve individualized routing and vehicle trips that may increase VMT. However, they provide critical mobility for populations who are not effectively served by fixed-route transit and fill essential transportation gaps. These services are vital for enhancing mobility, safety, and independence among some of the County’s most underserved residents.
Although this item may not directly contribute to the achievement of the Board-adopted VMT Reduction Targets, the VMT Targets were developed to account for the cumulative effect of a suite of programs and projects within the Metro region, which individually may induce or increase VMT. Additionally, Metro has a voter-approved mandate to deliver multimodal projects that enhance mobility while ensuring the efficient and safe movement of people and goods. The FTA Section 5310 program reflects Metro’s responsibility to deliver projects and programs that balance the goal of reducing VMT with the necessity to provide transportation options that effectively serve all Los Angeles County residents.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports the following goals of the Vision 2028 Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling; and
Goal 3: Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to approve of some or all of the recommended actions. However, this alternative is not recommended. Failure to approve and allocate the proposed Section 5310 funds would jeopardize specialized transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. It would also place Metro in non-compliance with federal transit law under the FTA Section 5310 Program, and prevent the agency from fulfilling its responsibilities as the Designated Recipient of Section 5310 funds. As a result, Metro could become ineligible to receive future Section 5310 funding. Additionally, the agency risks forfeiting currently available funds, due to lapsing, if they are not obligated on time.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, Metro will submit a Section 5310 grant application to the FTA on behalf of all approved projects. Following FTA approval, Metro will execute pass-through funding agreements and oversee project implementation to ensure Section 5310 program consistency and federal compliance.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Urbanized Area
Attachment B - Lancaster-Palmdale Urbanized Area
Attachment C - Santa Clarita Urbanized Area
Attachment D - Evaluation Criteria
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Ruben Cervantes, Senior Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 547-4323
Dustin Sifford, Principal Transportation Planner, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-4817
Anne Flores, Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922- 4894
Isidro Panuco, Deputy Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 547-4372
Fanny Pan, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418- 3433
Laurie Lombardi, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 418-3251
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
