ARRA to fund energy reduction, tribal transit

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced allocation of $17 million for the Federal Transit Administration’s Tribal Transit Program and the availability of $100 million for the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction grant program in federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009.

Projects will compete for a portion of the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction grant program on the basis of how much their proposed capital investment is expected to reduce either energy consumption or greenhouse gases, or both.

“This grant program establishes the transit industry as a leader in reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, addressing global climate change and creating green jobs,” said LaHood.

Transit agencies may apply under this grant program.  Additionally, other public organizations such as State Departments of Transportation can submit consolidated project proposals on behalf of transit agencies. Grants will be made for particular projects directly to public transportation agencies.

FTA will post application instructions, answers to common questions, and a calculator to assist in developing information on energy consumption or greenhouse gas emission reduction on its Website at http://www.fta.dot.gov/.  Potential applicants may also register for updates to program information at this site.

The ARRA tribal transit funds will provide grants to Indian tribes for capital expenditures including transit equipment and facilities.  Participants under this program include federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. 

Tribes will have 60 days to submit project proposals.  The Federal Register notice can be found at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/leg_reg_federal_register.html.