Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

Traditional Section 5310 Project Examples

• Buses and vans
• Wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices
• Transit-related information technology systems (e.g., scheduling, routing, or one-call systems)
• Mobility management programs
• Acquisition of transportation services under a contract, lease, or other arrangement

Nontraditional Section 5310 Project Examples

• Travel training
• Volunteer driver programs
• Building accessible paths to bus stops (e.g., curb cuts, sidewalks, accessible pedestrian signals)
• Improving signage or wayfinding technology
• Covering the incremental cost of providing same-day or door-to-door service
• Purchasing vehicles for new accessible taxi, ridesharing, or vanpooling programs
• Mobility management programs

Note: Under MAP-21, Section 5310 was expanded to include projects previously eligible under the former Section 5317 (New Freedom) program. These include capital and operating expenses for new public transportation services and alternatives that go beyond ADA requirements, specifically designed to assist individuals with disabilities and seniors.

Eligible recipients include:

• Private nonprofit organizations
• State or local government authorities
• Operators of public transportation

All recipients must reside within the Greater Madison MPO's boundary area.

Note: Private operators of public transportation are also eligible. The FTA defines "public transportation" to include shared-ride surface transportation services. This means that private taxi companies offering shared-ride service to the general public on a regular basis may qualify as eligible recipients.

“Shared-ride” refers to service where two or more passengers travel in the same vehicle but are not otherwise traveling together. Like general public or ADA demand-response service, not every trip must be shared—but the overall service must regularly include shared rides to meet the definition.

• Local Funding Match: A minimum local share of 20% is required for capital projects and mobility management programs, and 50% for operating projects.
• Program Compliance: Recipients must follow the guidelines outlined in the Section 5310 Program Management and Recipient Coordination Plan
• Plan Alignment: All projects must be consistent with the goals and strategies in the MPO’s Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan

• Joint Presentation with Metro Transit—outlines the application process, project selection/scoring criteria, and ongoing reporting requirements