Request For Proposals For Public Transit Solutions To Fill Service Gaps In The Greater Lehigh Valley Region
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The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS) is seeking qualified entities to propose public transit solutions to service gaps described in this Request For Proposals (RFP). LVTS is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Lehigh Valley. The LVTS develops transportation plans and programs and sets priorities for project funding.
This RFP is the result of the Federal Transit Administration's New Freedom Program, which is a program authorized in SAFETEA-LU to support public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the ADA of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et. seq.). This program is codified at 49 U.S.C. 5317.
The New Freedom Program grew out of the New Freedom Initiative introduced by the Administration under Executive Order 13217, "Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities," on June 18, 2001. The Order states: "The United States is committed to community-based alternatives for individuals with disabilities and recognizes that such services advance the best interests of the United States" and calls upon the Federal government to assist States and localities to swiftly implement the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C.
Individuals who are transportation-disadvantaged face different challenges in accessing services depending on whether they live in urban, rural, or suburban areas. The geographic dispersion of transportation-disadvantaged populations also creates challenges for human service programs hoping to deliver transportation for their passengers.
Over the years, in response to these challenges, Federal, State and local governments, and community-based organizations created specialized programs to meet particular transportation needs. At the Federal level alone, there are at least 62 separate programs, administered by eight Federal departments, and even more agencies, that provide special transportation services to individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes. Most of these are human service programs that fund limited transportation services to provide eligible participants with access to particular services, such as job training, health care, senior centers, or rehabilitation programs.
With the enactment of SAFETEA-LU, Congress authorized funding. Funding was first appropriated for the transportation provision in FY 2006. The New Freedom Program is intended to fill the gaps between human service and public transportation services previously available and to facilitate the integration of individuals with disabilities into the workforce and full participation in the community.
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study had the responsibility to develop the Lehigh Valley Surface Transportation Plan 2011 - 2030 and the Transportation Improvement Program for the two county region including the counties of Lehigh and Northampton and acted under this authority to oversee the implementation of the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan.
For this RFP, the LVTS will solicit proposals from interested entities and select the highest ranked respondent(s).
The LVTS reserves the right to reject any or all proposals if such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the LVTS or the Federal Transit Administration.
