Capital match revolving loan fund, amendments to ch 923
ARC 3535C
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT[761]
Notice of Intended Action
Notice is also given to the public that the Administrative Rules Review Committee may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this proposed action under section 17A.8(6) at a regular or special meeting where the public or interested persons may be heard.
Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code sections 307.12, 307A.2 and 1985 Iowa Acts, chapter 265, the Iowa Department of Transportation hereby gives Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 923, "Capital Match Revolving Loan Fund," Iowa Administrative Code.
The Department is proposing amendments to Chapter 923 to update the chapter. The following explains each proposed amendment:
●Item 1 updates subrule 923.1(1), which explains the scope of the chapter, to include state-funded capital projects in addition to federally funded capital projects. This change will allow public transit systems to obtain local matching funds required to qualify for capital purchases under state-funded projects. Federal capital projects remain eligible for local matching funds under the Capital Match Revolving Loan Fund. Since fiscal year 2007, the Department has been the recipient of money from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund for the Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program as detailed in Chapter 924. The Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund is to be used to fund public transit vertical infrastructure projects. Making state-funded capital projects eligible through the Capital Match Revolving Loan Fund will ensure every transit agency can apply for Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program funds and complete projects in a timely manner. Item 1 also updates subrule 923.1(2) to correct the name of the office responsible for administering this chapter and to add the Department's website address.
●Item 2 adds the definitions of "department," "project" and "public transit system" to the chapter instead of referring the reader to another chapter to obtain the definitions.
●Item 3 makes changes to rule 761—923.3(71GA,ch265), which concerns system eligibility criteria, to clarify the language and to coordinate the criteria within the rule with the criteria included in 761—paragraphs 920.5(1)"a," "b," and "c." The Department is proposing to remove language concerning use of a centralized accounting system and having one person responsible for managing assets, operations and funding of the system in favor of language requiring compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and the required length of time to keep documentation. The type of accounting system used and number of staff involved at the public transit agency level do not matter so long as the state and federal financial requirements are followed.
●Item 4 makes changes to rule 761—923.4(71GA,ch265), which concerns project eligibility criteria, to strike a criterion that is no longer applicable concerning federal funding eligibility since the Department proposes to now include state projects funded through the Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program. This item also makes editorial changes for clarity and consistency and corrects a reference to an Iowa Code citation that defines the term "vanpool."
●Item 5 updates rule 761—923.5(71GA,ch265), which concerns procedures to reflect that a loan request may be for either state or federal funding, to strike the obsolete division name of "air and transit division" and replace it with "department," make editorial corrections for readability, and change "signing" of contracts to "execution" to reflect electronic signature methods. This item also changes the approval decisions from the Transportation Commission to the Department to allow for expediency in providing loans as requests are submitted. Item 5 also removes the following duplicative wording: "Submission may be on an annual or individual basis." The timing for submitting an application is already explained under subrule 923.5(2) and allows for loan requests to be made annually or at any time a specific need arises.
These rules do not provide for waivers. Any person who believes that the person's circumstances meet the statutory criteria for a waiver may petition the Department for a waiver under 761—Chapter 11.
Any person or agency may submit written comments concerning these proposed amendments or may submit a written request to make an oral presentation. The comments or request shall:
1.Include the name, address, and telephone number of the person or agency authoring the comments or request.
2.Reference the number and title of the proposed rule, as given in this Notice, that is the subject of the comments or request.
3.Indicate the general content of a requested oral presentation.
4.Be addressed to Tracy George, Rules Administrator, Iowa Department of Transportation, Strategic Communications and Policy, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010; email: tracy.george@iowadot.us.
5.Be received by the Department's rules administrator no later than January 23, 2018.
A meeting to hear requested oral presentations is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2018, at 10 a.m.in the Administration Building, First Floor, North Conference Room, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa.
The meeting will be canceled without further notice if no oral presentation is requested.
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
These amendments are intended to implement 1985 Iowa Acts, chapter 265.
The following amendments are proposed.
Item 1. Amend rule 761—923.1(71GA,ch265) as follows:
761—923.1(71GA,ch265) General information.
923.1(1) Scope of chapter. The general assembly appropriated money from the petroleum overcharge fund to the department to be used as a revolving loan fund for transit capital purchases by public transit systems. The revolving loan fund will enable public transit systems to obtain the matching funds required to qualify for capital purchases under state or federally funded projects. The fund will provide multiyear interest-free loans to public transit systems to allow faster capital acquisitions. Loan recipients shall be required to demonstrate ability to repay the loan from budgeted funds or revenues.
923.1(2) Information. Information, requests Requests for information about and for assistance , and answers to questions about with the preparation and submission of loan requests may be obtained by contacting: should be directed to the Office of Public Transportation, Air and Transit Division Transit, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010; telephone (515)233-7870. Information is also available on the department's website at www.iowadot.gov.
Item 2. Amend rule 761—923.2(71GA,ch265) as follows:
761—923.2(71GA,ch265) Definitions. The definitions in rule 761—920.3(324A), Iowa Administrative Code, for "department," "public transit system," and "project" shall also apply to this chapter.
"Department" means the Iowa department of transportation.
"Project" means a concerted set of actions that will develop, maintain or improve one or more elements of the public transit system's service.
"Public transit system" means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 324A.1.
Item 3. Amend rule 761—923.3(71GA,ch265) as follows:
761—923.3(71GA,ch265) System eligibility. A public transit system is eligible to request a capital assistance loan from the revolving loan fund if it provided that the public transit system complies with all of the following criteria:
923.3(1) It uses a centralized accounting system that maintains primary documentation for all revenue and expenses The transit system abides by all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
923.3(2) One person is responsible for managing the assets, operations, and funding of the system The transit system maintains primary documentation for all revenues and expenses for a period of at least three years.
923.3(3) It The transit system maintains its the system's policies, routes, schedules, fare structure, and budget in a manner that encourages public review, responsiveness to user concerns, energy conservation, and fiscal solvency.
Item 4. Amend rule 761—923.4(71GA,ch265) as follows:
761—923.4(71GA,ch265) Project eligibility.
923.4(1) A project is eligible if it meets all of the following criteria:
a. It The project is a transit-related project for a capital purchase, e.g., new or replacement vehicles, facilities, or both.
b. It qualifies for federal funding approval which includes meeting the federal spare vehicle ratio requirement.
c. b.It The project meets an identifiable transit need that has been included in the public transit system's planning or programming document.
d. c.It The project is part of a statewide program of transit projects which has been adopted by the transportation commission.
e. d.The local funding needed for the project justifiably exceeds the public transit system's annual capital match funding capability.
923.4(2) A project to purchase vans for a vanpool, as defined in Iowa Code subsection 325.1(9) section 325A.12, may be submitted by an individual or a group through the appropriate public transit system. A vanpool project is eligible for an interest-free loan from the revolving loan fund only after funds for all other projects have been allocated.
Item 5. Amend rule 761—923.5(71GA,ch265) as follows:
761—923.5(71GA,ch265) Procedure.
923.5(1) Federal funding Funding request. The public transit system shall submit an a funding application for federal funding approval of the proposed project to either the air and transit division department or to the Federal Transit Administration, as required by the type of funding requested.
923.5(2) Loan request. The public transit system shall normally submit a request for a revolving fund loan to the air and transit division department when the annual grant application is made, but may submit a request at any time if a specific need arises. The request shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics and documents:
a. to e. No change.
923.5(3) Criteria for selection. The air and transit division department shall review each loan request and shall evaluate the projects for funding. Based on the following criteria ( not listed in order of preference in no particular order), preference shall be given to projects that:
a. to f. No change.
923.5(4) Approval. Based on available funds, the air and transit division department shall approve loans for projects meeting the criteria in subrule 923.4(1) or shall submit recommended loan projects meeting the criteria in subrule 923.4(2) to the transportation commission for approval. Submission may be on an annual or an individual basis rule 761—923.4(71GA,ch265).
923.5(5) Agreement. Upon approval by the transportation commission, the air and transit division department shall prepare a loan contract and send it to the public transit system for signing. The signed contract shall be returned to the air and transit division for signing by the department execution.
923.5(6) Default. If a public transit system fails to make a loan payment as agreed in the contract, the air and transit division department may, at its option, deduct the amount of any past due loan payment past due from state transit assistance payments allocated to that transit system.
This notice is now closed for comments. Collection of comments closed on 1/23/2018.
The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.
View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 1/3/2018.
The following administrative rule references were added to this document. You may click a reference to view related notices.
Rule 761-920.3 Rule 761-923.1 Rule 761-923.2 Rule 761-923.3 Rule 761-923.4 Rule 761-923.4(1) Rule 761-923.4(2) Rule 761-923.5The following Iowa code references were added to this document. You may click a reference to view related notices.
Iowa Code 324A.1 Iowa Code 325.1(9)The following keywords and tags were added to this document. You may click a keyword to view related notices.
Agreement Approval Criteria for selection Default Definitions Federal funding request Funding request General information Information Loan request Procedure Project eligibility Scope of chapter System eligibility© 2024; State of Iowa | Privacy Policy