Notice of Annual Public Hearing
May 13, 2010
LANTA: METRO SYSTEM - METRO PLUS
PROGRAM OF PROJECTS
Federal Fiscal Year 2011

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) in the Community Room on the second floor of the LANTA Allentown Office and Maintenance Facility, 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA, on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 12 Noon, for the purpose of reviewing LANTA's plans for continuing Metro and Metro Plus public transportation services and the Program of Projects FFY 2011 for which financial assistance is being sought from the Federal Transit Administration.

If no substantial changes are adopted by the LANTA Board as a result of a review of the information gathered through this public hearing process, the program of projects will be implemented as outlined here, a second public notice will not be issued and the program presented on May 13 will be final.

Metro is the name of the fixed-route, city bus transit system operated by LANTA.  The Authority plans to continue Metro service with a minimum of changes. Any major changes to services will be listed at the hearing.
The Authority is proposing a fare modification that will keep cash fares the same while making some adjustments to ticket and pass prices. Some other changes: the elimination of the single ride and 40-ride ticket are proposed due to the installation of a new fare collection system on board Metro vehicles.

Cash Fare	$2.00	$2.00
Student Fare	$1.00	$1.00
Single Ride	$1.00	*
One Day Pass	$2.50	$3.00
10 Ride Ticket	$13.00	$14.00
40 Ride Ticket	$50.00	*
31 Day Pass	$45.00	$50.00
Annual Pass	$495.00	$550.00

*Fare media to be eliminated.
B. Metro Plus is the name of the Authority's brokerage division which arranges transportation services for people with disabilities in the Metro service area who are unable to use regular, fixed route transit services. State Lottery regulations require that passengers pay 15% of the total average trip cost and the Metro Plus fare structure reflects this requirement.

The Program of Projects FFY 2011 is described below in general terms and funds will be sought through Section 5307 and Section 5309 of the SAFETEA-LU. Approximately $7.100,000 is available in the A.B.E. urbanized area (PA portion) for transit projects through Federal Fiscal Year 2011.

1. Purchase of twenty (20) accessible vehicles for the Metro Plus division. Total project cost: $1,360,000, with $1,224,000 coming through federal FTA funding.
2. General/miscellaneous shop and office equipment purchases will cost $1,100,000, with $880,000 from FTA.
3. Service vehicle replacement (4) is budgeted at $100,000 with $80,000 of that amount coming from FTA.
4. The Annual bus preventative maintenance program is estimated to cost $5,000,000 using fund available through the Federal Transit Administration.-
5. A total of $750,000 in FTA funding will be used under the ADA paratransit capitalization program.
6. The FTA transportation enhancement projects set aside is $75,000.
7. ITS – intelligent transportation system and other security projects are budgeted at $650,000 with $520,000 coming from Federal sources.
8. Planning activities and special studies will cost an estimated $500,000 with $400,000 coming through FTA funding.
9. New Freedom Initiative and Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) projects are budgeted at $400,000 in federal matching dollars.
10. Initiation of a Heavy-Duty Transit Bus Purchase (20 Total) with a budget of $770,000 with $616,000 from an FY 2010 FTA appropriations earmark.
11. Completion of an Alternatives Analysis review the feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit in the Lehigh Valley at an estimated cost of $490,000 with $390,000 from an FY 2010 FTA appropriations earmark.

Total Capital Program: $11,915,000

There is a potential for addition funding in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008 (ARRA) that would accelerate certain projects under this program. The projects effected are: General & Miscellaneous Purchases; the Preventative Maintenance Program; ADA Paratransit Services Capitalization; the Enhancement Program; and the Planning Program.

There will be no significant environmental impacts; the projects are in conformance with the guidelines of the Clean Air Act of 1990.

The items being presented at the hearing are either approved, or in the process of being approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, (LVTS), and are part of or are being considered as part of the certified Transportation Improvement Program for the Lehigh Valley.  The project conforms with comprehensive land use and transportation planning within Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Through the MPO, Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds or Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) funds are being sought to underwrite the cost of capital projects not covered by FTA funds available to the Lehigh Valley.

This project is necessary for the general welfare of the elderly and people with disabilities and transportation schedules have been and will continue to be developed to generally service areas where such persons reside.  The project will also be used to continue a coordinated specialized paratransit system designed to provide service to semiambulatory persons and those confined to wheelchairs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 604 concerning charter service, LANTA Hereby notifies all interested parties that it will continue to provide “incidental” charter service in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, for service requiring specialized vehicles, i.e., lift-equipped or ramp equipped, and service requesting specialty vehicles, i.e., trackless trolley facsimiles.

Senior citizens 65 years of age or older ride public transit free of charge.  People with disabilities, certified as eligible, ride LANTA for onehalf the peak hour fare during off peak hours. LANTA also has other discount fare programs for frequent riders as well as people with mobility-related disabilities.

At the public hearing, officials of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) will afford the public the opportunity for interested persons or representatives of agencies to be heard with respect to the Authority's Annual Program, service standards and performance evaluation measures and the social, environmental, economic aspects of the project.  Interested persons may submit, orally or in writing, or in any other accessible medium, evidence and recommendations with respect to said project.  Comments will be accepted prior to and within 10 (ten) days after the hearing.

Individuals with disabilities, who require that the meeting be presented in a medium accessible to them, are asked to notify LANTA at 610-435-4052 of the accommodation at least 10 days in advance of the May 13th meeting.

A copy of the preliminary application, Annual Program of Projects and Transportation Improvement Program for the Lehigh Valley are currently available for public inspection at the offices of LANTA, 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103 during regular business hours Monday through Friday. This material can be made available to persons with disabilities in whatever medium is required upon request; call 610-435-4052 or write to LANTA's Executive Director, care of the above address. LANTA’s e-mail address is lanta@erols.com.

By: Armando V. Greco Kent Herman, Esq
Executive Director Solicitor

Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority
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