Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Will be used to replace the leaking 30-year-old roof of the People Mover bus maintenance facility in Anchorage, Alaska. The new roof will also improve the facility’s overall energy efficiency, saving money on heating fuel costs.

The notice of funding availability published in the Federal Register invites competitive proposals for three of the FTA's top policy priorities through the discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities and Clean Fuels grant programs.

Projects will be evaluated on primary criteria that include safety, economic competitiveness, livability, environmental sustainability, state of repair and short-term job creation.

Will use the State of Good Repair grant program funds to replace old buses. Once the new buses arrive next year, one out of every six of the agency’s buses will be diesel electric hybrid.

Will develop and document a transit asset management framework and implementation guide that will support the FTA’s State of Good Repair and Asset Management Programs. FTA estimates a nationwide backlog of $50 billion to $80 billion in deferred maintenance and replacement needs, many of which are rail related.

Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia will also provide $150 million in matching local funds to help pay for the improvements.

Money will go to 152 projects, which include replacing aging buses with fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, constructing new bus shelters and maintenance facilities and installing updated fare boxes and fleet tracking systems.

While most of the backlog can be attributed to rail, more than 40 percent of the nation's buses are also in poor to marginal condition.