Public Information

Notice of Annual Public Hearing

May 11, 2012

LANtaBus and LANtaVan

PROGRAM OF PROJECTS

Federal Fiscal Year

   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, 1060 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA, on Friday May 11, 2012 at 12 Noon, for the purpose of reviewing LANta's plans for continuing LANtaBus and LANtaVan public transportation services and the Program of Projects FFY 2013 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 11th will be final.

       LANtaBus (formerly, Metro) is the name of the fixed-route, city bus transit system operated by LANta.  The Authority plans to continue LANtaBus services at current levels. Additionally, the Authority is proposing a fare modification that will keep cash fares the same while making adjustments to ticket and pass prices.  The proposed new fares are as follows.

           LANtaVan (formerly, Metro Plus) is the name of the Authority's division which arranges transportation services for people with disabilities in the LANtaVan service area who are unable to use regular, fixed route transit services. No changes to LANtaVan services or fares are being proposed.

1. The Program of Projects FFY is described below in general terms and funds will be sought through Section 5307 of the SAFETEA-LU. Approximately $7 million in FTA Section 5307 funds is available in the A.B.E. urbanized area (PA portion) for transit projects through FFY 2013
   

     1.  Purchase of twenty (20) accessible vehicles for the LANtaVan division.  Total project cost: $1,360,000. FTA or other funds are currently being sought.

     2.  General/miscellaneous shop and office equipment purchases will cost $960,000, with $768,000 from FTA.

     3.  The Annual bus preventative maintenance program is estimated to cost $4,000,000 using fund available through the Federal Transit Administration.

     5.  A total of $700,000 in FTA funding will be used under the ADA paratransit capitalization program.

     6.  The FTA transportation enhancement projects set aside is $70,000.

     7.  ITS – intelligent transportation system and other security projects are budgeted at $264,000 with $211,200 coming from Federal sources.

     8.  Planning activities and special studies will cost an estimated $380,000 with $304,000 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. Purchase of Heavy-Duty Transit Bus Purchase (7 Total) with a budget of $2,080,000 with $1,664,000 from FTA.

    11. Purchase / Install Shelters and Signs budgeted at $320,000 with $256,000 from FTA.

    12. Purchase of two (2) replacement service vehicles at $80,000 with $64,000 from FTA.

    Total Funded Capital Program: $11,614,000

    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 semi ambulatory 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 LANtaBus for one half the cash fare.  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 4th 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 agreco@lantabus-pa.gov.

    By: Armando V. Greco                                                Kent Herman, Esq.

Executive Director                                                 Solicitor

 Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority

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