FTA Delivers Grant to Convert WMATA’s Cinder Bed Bus Garage

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) announced it received a $104 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The grant was delivered at a celebration at the Cinder Bed Road Bus Garage which will be converted to exclusively serve battery-electric buses with funds from the grant. 

Low or No Emission Vehicle Grant

The Low or No Emission Vehicle grant will help Metro achieve its accelerated timeline to transition nine bus garages and nearly 1600 buses to zero-emission by 2042.

FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool delivered the grant at a celebration that included U.S. Congressman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay, Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg, and Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. 

Metro said it is partnering with Fairfax County on the conversion of the Cinder Bed Road facility, a portion of which is planned to be used by the county to house and charge their all-electric Bus Rapid Transit service running from Fort Belvoir to Huntington Metrorail Station by 2030.

The grant will also support the purchase of battery-electric Metrobuses for the region, and workforce development and training. 

“FTA is proud to support WMATA’s renovation of the Cinder Bed Bus Garage as it moves toward achieving its ambitious goal to replace its entire fleet with electric buses that run on greener and cleaner fuel sources,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Riders and residents in the Capital region can be proud that WMATA is leading the charge.”