Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

In making the more than $600 million in new awards, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) met an aggressive deadline to award 100 percent of its Recovery Act transit formula dollars by March 5.

Chosen projects range in size from under $4 million to over $100 million, and are found in both rural and urban communities from Alaska to Maine and Hawaii to South Carolina.

The spending plan included in President Obama's Budget submitted to Congress announces recommendations to invest $834.6 million in 19 new transit construction projects— 10 of which are new funding recommendations in FY 2011, and 9 of which have been recommended for funding in previous years, but still await construction grant agreements.

The budget includes an additional $1 billion for high-speed rail, coming on the heels of President Obama and Vice President Biden's January 28 announcement of $8 billion in Recovery Act funds for states across the country to develop America's first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.

Thursday's awards will serve as a down-payment on developing or laying the groundwork for 13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country.

The project will be in two phases. The first calls for improving 182 bus stops at a cost of $1.3 million, with completion expected by May.

FTA will soon initiate a separate rulemaking process, inviting public comment on ways to appropriately measure all the benefits that result from such investments.

Order prohibits more than four million federal employees from texting behind the wheel while working or while using government vehicles and communications devices.

Prepared to request $50 million from the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act that Congress is expected to consider next year.

Projects to include streetcars, buses and bus facilities. FTA plans to announce grants early in 2010.