The Small Starts program is designed to make it easier to fund inexpensive BRT, rapid bus or streetcar projects. Congress carved out the "Small Starts" category from the broader New Starts program in the 2005 federal transportation bill. Unlike New Starts, projects do not have to operate exclusively on a separate right-of-way to be eligible for Small Starts funding. This allows BRTs that operate sustantially on a fixed guideway or corridor-based bus projects to secure Sect. 5309 funding.
Small Starts projects can take advantage of a shorter, simpler evaluation and approval process. However, Small Starts will only provide $75 million of a $250 million project budget, so larger BRTs cannot qualify. Moreover, the Small Starts budget is limited: Congress authorized $600 million for Small Starts through FY'09 versus $6 billion for New Starts. The program has also been a target of budget cutting. For fiscal year 2008, FTA requested only $100 million, instead of the $200 million recommended in the authorizing legislation. Congress determines the actual funding amount during the appropriations process, so it could restore the original funding levels. We track the FY'08 funding process here.
What is a Small Starts project?
To qualify, a project must meet the following criteria:
-- the Sect. 5309 funding request must be less than $75 million, with total project costs under $250 million; and,
-- the project must be a fixed guideway for at least 50% of its length in the peak period; and/or
-- the project must be a corridor-based bus project with, at a minimum, signal priority/pre-emption, level or low floor boarding vehicles, substantial stations, special branding, and frequent service (10-minute peak, 15-minute off peak) for at least 14 hours per day.
Very Small Starts projects
Projects that cost less than $50 million are labelled Very Small Starts, which has a significantly streamlined application process. (This category is similar to New Starts "exempt" projects.) Three of the first four projects selected for funding are Very Small Starts.
Applying for funding
Small Starts applicants have only two pre-grant phases, as opposed to three for New Starts. Applicants first complete an alternatives analysis, and then move into "project development," which combines the New Starts preliminary engineering and final design work. FTA also has fewer requirements for completing these phases. Upon completion of project development, FTA makes its funding recommendation. For an overview of the process, download FTA's Small Starts fact sheet.
Very Small Starts has a significantly pared down application and evaluation process. For an overview, download FTA's fact sheet.
FTA continues to refine the Small Starts and Very Small Starts application, evaluation and ratings policies. For the most up-to-date guidance, visit the FTA Small Starts webpage.
Small Starts projects
FY'08 is the first year that Small Starts funding has been available. In spite of uncertainties about program policies and procedures, ten BRT projects applied for funding. FTA has recommended that four BRT or rapid bus projects receive a total of $52 million in FY'08 Small Starts grants. The remainder of FTA's $100 million budget request would be reserved for other projects expected to be demonstrate eligibility in FY'08. The four projects are:
-- the Los Angeles Metro Rapid Bus System Gap Closure
-- Kansas City Troost Corridor
-- the Pioneer Parkway EmX in Eugene/Springfield, Oregon
-- the King County, Washington Pacific Highway South BRT
For more on the recommended projects and their funding status, see our Funding Update page.
Interest in Small Starts
Future demand for Small Starts is likely to be high. In its July 2007 New Starts report, the GAO surveyed 215 transit project sponsors on their funding plans. Project sponsors said they intend to seek funding for 30 Small Starts projects and 14 Very Small Starts projects, while sponsoring 57 New Starts projects.
The report notes that BRT projects in the Section 5309 funding pipeline increased dramatically in FY'08, surpassing the individual commuter rail, heavy rail and light rail project categories. Much higher funding levels may be needed to support the interest in building BRT and rapid bus corridors.
The GAO also noted that Small Starts is attracting cities that would not have considered applying for New Starts funding. Many are inexperienced with the Sect. 5309 process and seek further help from FTA in navigating its procedures. Overall, the GAO report indicated that, while project sponsors believe Small Starts a big improvement over New Starts, they still find the process overly cumbersome and time consuming. The GAO recommended that FTA further refine the application and evaluation policies and provide assistance to cities seeking funding.
Next: More on federal funding sources
New Starts
Small Starts
FY'08 Funding Updates
Other Federal Funding Options
State and Local Funding
Private Financing
FTA's Small Starts Fact Sheet
FTA's Very Small Starts Fact Sheet
FTA Small Starts overview page
FTA FY'08 budet request
APTA overview of transportation rulemakings