Section 72-2-403 - Public transit innovation grants - Administration(1) The commission, in consultation with the department, relevant councils of governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and public transit districts, shall develop a process for the prioritization of grant proposals that includes: (a) instructions on making and submitting a grant proposal;(b) methodology for selecting grants; and(c) methodology for awarding grants.(2) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission shall make rules to establish the process described in Subsection (1) and as otherwise necessary to implement this part.(3) The department shall: (a) accept grant applications;(b) rank grant proposals based on the objectives and criteria established in this part; and(c) provide money to grant recipients as directed by the commission and in accordance with this part.(4) A municipality or a group of municipalities may submit a grant proposal to the department.(5)(a) A public transit innovation grant proposal shall include data, evidence, and information about: (i) how the project will advance the purposes and goals of a public transit innovation grant described in Subsection 72-2-401(5);(ii) how the proposed services will provide a direct public transit service benefit to the municipality or area;(iii) the proposed mode of public transit or purpose for the funding;(iv) the proposed operator of the service, including qualifications for any proposed operator that is not a public transit district;(v) any funds provided by the municipality or group of municipalities as part of the grant proposal;(vi) how the pilot service will improve ridership in the municipality or area; and(vii) any other information that the municipality or public transit district finds relevant.(b) A public transit innovation grant proposal may propose a term of up to three years.(c) A public transit innovation grant proposal shall include information regarding integration and coordination with existing public transit services.(6) In considering a public transit innovation grant proposal, the commission shall consider criteria including: (a) population growth within the municipality or area relative to other municipalities or areas within the same county;(b) how the proposal furthers the following objectives:(i) increasing public transit ridership in the area;(ii) improving connectivity for the first and last mile relative to other public transit services; and(iii) improving public transit connectivity in high-growth areas within the public transit district; and(c) any funds proposed to be invested by the municipality or public transit district as part of the grant proposal.(7) The grant proposal may allow for bids for a vendor or public transit district to provide or operate the proposed services.(8) Subject to available funding described in Subsection 72-2-402(1), the commission may award a public transit innovation grant to a recipient that the commission determines furthers the objectives described in Subsections (5) and (6).(9)(a) Subject to Subsection (9)(b), if the commission approves a grant to provide money from a local option sales and use tax described in Subsection 59-12-2219(11), a public transit district shall transfer the money to the department, and the department shall transfer the money to the grant recipient.(b) A public transit district may offset money from a local option sales and use tax described in Subsection 59-12-2219(11) with other funds available to the public transit district.(10) If the commission approves a grant to provide money as provided in Subsection 72-2-121(7), the department shall transfer the money to the grant recipient.(11) Any grant funds, assets, or infrastructure acquired or improved through a public transit innovation grant under this part belong to the grant recipient.Added by Chapter 498, 2024 General Session ,§ 13, eff. 7/1/2024.