5310 Isn’t Just a Number (and Neither is 5311)

By Cara Marcus, Knowledge and Resource Manager, National RTAP

So what is 5310 all about?

While the Internal Revenue Service provides a Form 5310 to request an IRS determination as to a person’s qualified status and John Deere sells a 5310 Tractor, in the transit world the number 5310 means something unique. Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities formula program provides funding to assist in meeting the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Rural public transit systems may be eligible for Section 5310 funding through their State Department of Transportation. Many organizations in rural areas, such as the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center receive both Section 5311 (Formula Grants for Rural Areas) and 5310 funding.

So what is 5311 all about?

5311 also means a batch of different things too. It’s the North American Industry Classification System Code for Lessors of Real Estate and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Code for Department Stores. But in the transit world, Section 5311 is FTA’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas program, which provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000.  Section 5311 funding also supports National RTAP (Rural Transit Assistance Program) and the State and U.S. Territorial RTAPs. There are several subcomponents of Section 5311, including 5311(c)(1)(B) (Tribal Transit Formula Grants) and Section 5311 (f) (Intercity Bus Program). The National RTAP Transit Manager’s Toolkit provides new transit managers with the information they will need on day one to ensure their rural transit organizations are operating smoothly and are in compliance with the federal regulations associated with receiving Section 5311 funding.

You need a plan!

Just like 5310 and 5311 aren’t just numbers, a coordinated Human Services Transportation plan isn’t just a plan – it is a valuable tool. For example, Mountain Empire Older Citizens, a grantee in the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center’s (NADTC) Planning for Sustainability initiative, had a vision of the needs in the community and used their plan to make a difference in the lives of their clients.  For guidance on your own plan, read National RTAP, NADTC, and the former National Center for Mobility Management’s (NCMM) Writing a Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan.

There’s a resource for that

National RTAP provides several resources and tools to help organizations on their path to obtaining and implementing Section 5310 and 5311 funding:

• 5311 Programs List – a list in the National RTAP State RTAP Manager’s Toolkit that provides links to state websites with information about 5311 programs. It also provides links to State RTAP websites, which may be staffed by different individuals than 5311 programs.
• 5310 Programs List – a list in the National RTAP Find Anything Toolkit that provides links to state websites with information about 5310 programs. This list was created by NADTC and will be maintained by National RTAP.  For example, the Alabama Department of Transportation has a 5310 webpage with general information about the program and a statewide 5310 public notice, application, and cover letter.
• One of National RTAP’s helpful webinars is our State Allocation of Section 5310 and 5311 Funds webinar. We provide the recording, presentation slides, and a handout.
• In the National RTAP ADA Toolkit, how FTA funding can support ADA-Related Expenses are explained including that describes eligible (5310) projects, examples of public transportation (5311) projects that exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and examples of public transportation alternatives that assist seniors and individuals with disabilities with transportation.
• ADA Driver Training – Once a rural or Tribal transit agency receives Section 5310 or 5311 funding, they will want all their drivers to take this National RTAP eLearning course to safely and professionally provide service for passengers with disabilities and comply with the ADA.
• Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) – National RTAP founded and currently participates in TACL, which is now administered by the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC). Users can perform a title search in TACL on 5310 and 5311 and retrieve resources including NADTC’s Section 5310 and Cycling without Age Program and Travel Training Instruction using FTA Section 5310.

Also, check out this comprehensive new webpage from NADTC on 5310!  NADTC’s FTA Section 5310 Resource Hub contains an overview of Section 5310, guidance on project eligibility, and an application checklist.

If you have training or technical assistance questions about rural transportation funding, please reach out to NRTAP and we will connect you with published resources and/or experts who will address your information needs.  Our Resource Library is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, and can be reached by phone (888-589-6821), email (info@nationalrtap.org), or chat (the top right corner of https://www.nationalrtap.org/).

About the Author:

Cara Marcus, MSLIS, is the Knowledge and Resource Manager for National RTAP.  She oversees National RTAP’s Resource Library, provides direct 1:1 technical assistance and research, and creates technical assistance products on rural transit topics. Cara’s published works center upon library and knowledge management, access for people with disabilities and older adults, and verbal education. Cara is the Past-President of the Special Libraries Association Transportation Community and serves on the communications committee of the National Transportation Knowledge Network.