FTA awards $164.7M to 'green' transit projects

On Thursday, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that urban and rural transit providers across the nation will receive a share of $164.7 million for cutting-edge projects that create "green" jobs, promote the use of clean fuels, and help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

"Putting money into green transportation just makes sense,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These projects will reduce our nation’s dependence on oil and create many good-paying green jobs for American workers.”

The money is being provided through FTA’s Fiscal Year 2010 Discretionary Sustainability Funding Opportunity, announced last April, which comprises two programs: $89.7 million from FTA’s Clean Fuels Grant Program, including partial funding from the Bus and Bus Facility discretionary program, and $75 million from FTA’s Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program.The Clean Fuels funds were awarded to 36 transit recipients; TIGGER funds were awarded to 27 recipients.

The 63 winning projects involve an array of environmental innovations, such as installing energy-efficient technologies at transit facilities, replacing traditional diesel-powered buses with low- or zero-emission vehicles, and building compressed natural gas fueling stations.

Clean Fuels grant recipients were chosen through a competitive selection process based on their ability to help communities achieve or maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide, while supporting emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses.

TIGGER funds, also chosen by competitive selection, were awarded based on a project’s ability to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and provide a return on the investment. 

The winning proposals were submitted by transit agencies from across the country. The FTA reviewed more than 274 applications from across the U.S. seeking a total of $1.4 billion.

The winning project proposals are listed here.