Announcement of RFA from the Basic Transportation Needs Fund Board

Announcement of RFA from the Basic Transportation Needs Fund Board

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The Basic Transportation Needs Fund was established in 2011 as a partnership between Capital Metro and One Voice Central Texas to enhance access to transportation. Since 2012, an independent Board has overseen the work of the Fund including the distribution of transit passes to nonprofit organizations and support of two demonstration projects. The Board includes representatives from the nonprofit and business community, and Capital Metro.

The Basic Transportation Needs Fund (BTNF) Board will accept applications for the following:

  • Purchase of deeply discounted Capital Metro Local Bus Passes, Premium Passes, Commuter Passes, and MetroAccess Ten Ride Booklets (50% reduction from the reduced nonprofit rate = 75% discount from the full fare). The provision of deeply discounted passes (as opposed to no cost passes) will help ensure the sustainability of the Fund.
  • No Cost Passes – A limited number of no cost passes will be available. A maximum of 30% of the overall request can be made for no cost passes (i.e. if requesting 100 passes no more than 30 can be at no cost). However, for no cost passes to be awarded, a compelling case must be made as to the critical need for the passes and the reasons that the organization cannot purchase the passes at the deeply discounted rate.

 

Eligible Pass/Ticket Types: Applicants can request deeply discounted passes for Local Bus Service, Premium Service, Commuter Service, and 10 Ride MetroAccess Service. All recipients of Reduced Fare Passes must meet eligibility criteria detailed at http://www.capmetro.org/RFID and have a Capital Metro Reduced Fare ID card from Capital Metro. All recipients of MetroAccess passes must have a MetroAccess card: https://www.capmetro.org/metroaccess. More information about Capital Metro fares can be found at: http://www.capmetro.org/fares.

Target Population: All passes must be used by individuals who are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level and are transit dependent.

Purpose: The primary purpose of the passes must be to access: Employment, Education, Healthcare, or Social Services.

Timeline: Applications are due at 5:00pm on Friday February 20, 2015. The Board does not anticipate another solicitation for bus pass applications until early 2016, so organizations should consider that when making their application. An optional Bidders conference will be held next Friday, February 6, 9:00am-10:00am in the Meals on Wheels Board Room, 3227 East 5th, Austin, 78702.