Section 7-273l - Application for state funds. Distribution formula. Conditions for receiving funds. Municipal transit service. Regulations(a) As used in this section, "urbanized area" has the same meaning as provided in 49 USC 5302(24), as amended from time to time, and "rural area" has the same meaning as provided in 49 USC 5302(17), as amended from time to time.(b) Each transit district established under this chapter or any special act may (1) impose service charges and user fees on persons using transit systems operated by such district, and (2) apply for funding from the Department of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of this section to finance the construction, acquisition, purchase, lease or operation of a mass transit system and related programs authorized under section 7-273b. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, until June 30, 2024, inclusive, the commissioner shall distribute such funds to each transit district located in an urbanized area or a rural area in the same manner as the formula specified under 49 USC 5307, as amended from time to time, or 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to time. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall distribute such funds to each transit district located in a rural area in the same manner as the formula specified under 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to time. Any municipality providing transit service that is not part of a transit district may either establish a transit district under the provisions of this chapter to assume operating control of such service or negotiate an agreement with the Department of Transportation to administer the operation of such service. In the latter case, the department shall provide financial assistance to such municipality according to the formula specified in this section. As a condition of receiving any funds under this subsection, a transit district or municipality shall meet eligibility criteria established by the commissioner, including, but not limited to, deriving a portion of operating costs from service charges, user fees, federal or local subsidies and sources other than from state subsidies. (c) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Transportation shall distribute to each transit district located in an urbanized area an amount equivalent to the total amount of funds distributed to the transit district pursuant to subsection (b) of this section by the commissioner during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.(d) In addition to the funding distributed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Transportation shall establish a grant program to assist transit districts located in urbanized areas to maintain and expand transit services, provide regional transit services and upgrade the equipment, facilities and infrastructure incident to the provision of transit services. The commissioner shall establish eligibility criteria, an application process, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements for the grant program. The commissioner shall prioritize grant awards to transit districts where the municipality that formed the transit district has a population of one hundred thousand or more, as determined by the most recent population estimate by the Department of Public Health, and transit districts where the member municipalities included in the transit district have a combined population of one hundred thousand or more.(e) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this section.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-273l
Amended by P.A. 22-0040, S. 26 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2022. See Sec. 13b-38 re advice and assistance by Commissioner of Transportation to transit districts.