2022 and 2023 CONSOLIDATED SECTION 5311 APPLICATION PROGRAM
APPALACHIAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SENECA NATION OF INDIANS
SENECA TRANSIT SYSTEM
Public notice is hereby made that the Seneca Nation of Indians is applying for federal financial assistance to provide public transportation service, known as the Seneca Transit System, as follows: The Seneca Transit System intends to contract with a third-party contract operator to operate route deviation service on and between the Allegany and Cattaraugus Territories of the Seneca Nation of Indians and will commence new service on the Allegany Territory in calendar year 2023. Seneca Transit System service operates in the environs of Cattaraugus County and the City of Salamanca in New York State. The duration of service covered by this application includes October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, and between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.
Public notice is further made that the Seneca Nation of Indians is also applying for federal financial assistance to purchase two new buses that will be used to operate new route deviation public transportation service on the Allegany Territory and two replacement buses that will be used to provide public transportation route deviation service on the existing Seneca Transit System bus route. Each replacement bus will be equipped with up to 18 passenger seats and two (2) wheelchair tie-down locations. The total cost of four new and replacement buses is estimated at $572,532. Additionally, the Seneca Nation is requesting capital assistance funding to purchase one spare bus engine and one spare bus transmission. This equipment is estimated to cost $15,000.
The transportation service will be available to the general public during all hours of operation. Seneca Transit System service is provided in accordance with the Seneca Nation of Indians, NYSDOT and FTA guidelines and deviates up to ¾ of a mile with 48-hour notice.
The project is expected to be financed with federal operating assistance funding available from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in the amount of $57,000 and from the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $150,000. Additional operating assistance funding is available from the Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 Rural Program public transportation funds, and from Federal Transit Administration Appalachian Development Public Transportation Assistance Program funding. The New York State Department of Transportation will provide funds to the project under the Statewide Transit Operating Assistance (STOA) Program.
The total amount of federal section 5311 operating assistance funds which is available to the Seneca Transit System is $113,500 in 2022 and $116,000 in 2023.
The application includes up to $5,291 in federal Appalachian Development Public Transportation Assistance Program funding for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
The total federal share for cited operating assistance projects over two fiscal years is $587,532. The total federal share of the bus replacement capital projects for which assistance is sought is up to $470,026.
Comments on the proposed project are invited from the general public, private bus and taxi companies, other public transportation providers and human service agencies. Interested parties may comment on the project or obtain more details about the project by writing to:
Sharon Ray
Acting Director
Department of Transportation
Seneca Nation of Indians
90 Ohi Yo Way
Salamanca, NY 14779
Phone: 716-945-1790
Email: Sharon.ray@sni.org
Human service agencies that receive assistance from other Federal agencies for non-emergency transportation services are encouraged to participate and coordinate with the provider in the planning, design and delivery of transportation services. Agencies may obtain copies of the service description and submit proposals for service coordination. Private bus and taxi operators may request copies of the project service description from the above-named person and may submit comments on the service as described.
If you wish to comment on any aspect of the proposed project, submit a proposal or a request for service coordination or request a public hearing on this project, you must make your interest known in writing within fifteen calendar days of the date of this publication and provide your comments within fifteen calendar days of your receipt of the project service description. Your requests and/or comments must be forwarded to the above person.
