FTA awards $264M in grants for bus and bus facilities

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced approximately $264 million in project selections to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility for transit riders across the country. A total of 139 projects in 52 states and territories will receive funding from FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program. A list of the selected projects is available here.

“Every day, working families across America rely on buses, and these grants will ensure that these vital services continue to be both safe and efficient,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The grants will fund projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, and construct bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.

“FTA is proud to help bring new and rehabilitated buses, facilities, and equipment to communities across the country,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “This marks a step forward in improving mobility for the millions of Americans who travel by bus to work, school, healthcare, and other services.”

Among the projects selected to receive funding:

• The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works in Florida will receive funding to purchase CNG buses to replace older buses that have exceeded their useful life. The new buses will improve the efficiency and reliability of the bus service in the Miami area.
• The Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania will receive funding to purchase low-floor clean diesel buses. The new vehicles will improve transit service and reliability for residents of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
• The Tennessee Department of Transportation will receive funding to help transit agencies throughout the state improve bus service by replacing older transit vehicles that have exceeded their useful life. The new vehicles will help improve transit service and reliability for residents throughout Tennessee.

Demand for FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received applications for 453 eligible projects totaling approximately $2 billion in funding requests from a total of 53 States and territories. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The selected projects will receive a combination of fiscal year 2017 and 2018 funds.