San Francisco, Reno, Nev. BRT projects land federal grants

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of approximately $75 million in federal grant funds for construction of the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, which will significantly improve transit service in one of the busiest bus corridors in San Francisco, as well as $39 million in funds for construction of the 4th Street/Prater Way BRT Project between Reno and Sparks, Nev.

“The Obama Administration is proud to partner with San Francisco to help bring more modern, reliable transit service to residents in this busy area,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This new BRT line will provide a convenient connection to the Muni light rail system, and it will improve access to jobs, health care, and opportunity throughout the Bay Area.”

The two-mile BRT line will operate in dedicated lanes along U.S. Highway 101/Van Ness Avenue, a key route for commuters traveling between the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco. The project includes nine side-platform stations with low-floor bus boarding and passenger shelters, as well as traffic signal priority, pedestrian improvements, and the purchase of new buses.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is receiving approximately $45 million through the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program, as well as $30 million in FTA Bus and Bus Facilities funds toward the $223 million project. The remaining cost is being covered by other federal, state, and local sources.

The CIG Program is the nation’s primary grant program for funding major transit capital investments. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law in order to be eligible for and receive program funds.

SFMTA anticipates the Van Ness BRT service will open in 2020 and provide 52,400 average weekday trips in the opening year.

Meanwhile, the 3.1-mile Nev. BRT line will operate in mixed traffic along the Historic Highway 40 (Lincoln Highway) corridor that links the downtown business districts of Reno and Sparks. The project includes four electric buses, a fast-charge station, and four branded passenger stations with level boarding, as well as real-time schedule information, transit signal priority upgrades, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County anticipates the BRT service will open in 2019.

The U.S. DOT is providing approximately $39 million to RTC for the new BRT line. Federal funds include a $16 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, $11.8 million from the Surface Transportation Program, $6.47 million from FTA’s CIG Program, and $5.3 million from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. The remaining cost is being covered by local sources.

The CIG Program is the nation’s primary grant program for funding major transit capital investments. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law in order to be eligible for and receive program funds.