LA Metro, SEPTA among FTA 'Low-No' grant awardees

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the latest project selections for the Low and No-Emission Vehicle Deployment Program, known as Low-No. Seven transit providers in five states will receive a share of $22.5 million toward transit buses and related facilities that utilize battery-electric, fuel cell, and other innovative technologies to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve operating efficiency.

FTA awarded the FY 2015 funds after a highly-competitive review process that prioritized transit agencies and bus manufacturers with strong records in building, deploying, and operating clean buses and infrastructure. The Low-No program helps advance President Obama’s vision for a 21st Century Clean Transportation System and the Department’s Beyond Traffic framework for investing in a strong and sustainable transportation network that will meet the needs of our nation in the years ahead.

Among the projects selected in this round of Low-No funding:

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will receive $2.5 million toward the purchase of 25 zero-emission all-electric buses and related equipment. These vehicles will be deployed on bus routes in South Philadelphia and an associated workforce development program will further contribute to the project's economic impact. SEPTA’s extensive local commitment resulted in efficient leveraging of federal funds, allowing them to purchase many more vehicles than other recipients.

• The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will receive $4.2 million toward five battery-electric zero-emission buses, as well as eight charging stations. This electric bus infrastructure will serve the Metro Orange Line bus rapid transit corridor in the City of Los Angeles. LACMTA will also partner with the Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium to include workforce development in support of zero-emission technology.

• The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) will receive $4-plus million toward three zero-emission American Fuel Cell Buses (AFCBs). This project will build on SARTA’s successful, existing fuel-cell bus program, which has already established hydrogen fuel-cell infrastructure and will soon deploy five additional AFCBs in Stark County, Ohio. SARTA recently held an event in Columbus, Ohio celebrating the launch of the first of those fuel-cell buses, along with FTA regional staff, representatives from the Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research and others.

The FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program was established under MAP-21 and re-authorized in FAST Act. FTA previously awarded $55 million to 10 projects in February 2015 under the first round of funding made available through this program.

The FAST Act also made the Low-No program, previously funded and managed under FTA’s research programs, a subset of the larger competitive bus program. Interested parties currently have the opportunity to apply for $55 million in FY2016 Low-No funding, for which the application period closes in May 2016.