April 13, 2009
2009 APTA - TRB Light Rail Conference Issue
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What’s New at FTA’s ARRA Web Site? Presidential Memo, TIGGER Calculator
In its continuing practice of providing updated information and guidance on ARRA-related information on its web site, the Federal Transit Administration’s has posted a memorandum from President Barack Obama titled “Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds,” and sent to the heads of all U.S. Executive Departments and Agencies. The memo first appeared in the March 20 Federal Register.
“In implementing the Recovery Act, we have undertaken unprecedented efforts to ensure the responsible distribution of funds for the Act’s purposes and to provide public transparency and accountability of expenditures,” the memo states. “We must not allow Recovery Act funds to be distributed on the basis of factors other than the merits of proposed projects or in response to improper influence or pressure.”
The site also provides a calculator that instructs stakeholders on how to determine their energy consumption reduction levels under the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program included in ARRA. Only agencies submitting proposals under energy consumption reduction criteria must complete these calculations, presented in an Excel format. After completing the worksheet, FTA instructs applicants to rename their file “Agency name – TIGGER” and email it with the rest of the proposal.
Also on the web site is a constantly updated list of documents that includes all corrections, updates, and additions to the ARRA legislation beginning on March 20.
To find this information and more, click here.
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