AATA earns FTA certificate of excellence

The FTA cited AATA for “exemplary completion” of the review, which is conducted every three years at all transit systems receiving federal funds. AATA was one of only two systems among 122 grantees in FTA Region V receiving the honor. Systems are required to be reviewed every three years under federal Section 5307 code.

According to AATA Interim Executive Director Dawn Gabay, “The FTA conducts triennial reviews to make sure we are using FTA funds in the manner prescribed for their use.”

In an FTA letter to AATA prior to the review, the process was described as “less exact than an audit”, but a review of a system’s compliance with federal requirements as “determined by the examination of grant management practices and program implementation”.

Gabay, who coordinated AATA’s response to the 2006 triennial review, said that the extensive review process began with a desk review based on responses to a set of FTA questions covering 23 categories. Among the categories are legal, financial, technical, procurement, maintenance, fare and service changes, ADA, safety and security, and equal employment opportunity.

Other review areas are satisfactory continuing control, planning (program and projects),Title 6, public comment process, half fare, charter, school bus, National Transit Data Base, drug-free workplace, drug and alcohol and ITS architecture.

An FTA representative and one of their audit contractors then visited AATA for more than two full days to make random checks of AATA’s files.

“AATA is proud of the level of excellence that our organization maintains year after year and pleased to receive this recognition from the FTA,” Gabay said. “We will continue to strive for excellence in the operation of TheRide and all the services on which our community depends.”

Dominick Gatto, director of FTA’s Office of Program Management and Oversight, said, “We greatly appreciate (AATA’s) continued commitment to making public transportation America’s mode of choice.”