The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of up to $130 million in competitive grant funds through FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. The Low-No Program helps project sponsors purchase or lease low- or no-emission vehicles that use advanced technologies for transit revenue operations, including related equipment or facilities.

"The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to improving safety, rebuilding our transportation infrastructure, and preparing for the future with new technologies," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.  

FTA will award the grants to eligible applicants, which include public transit agencies, state transportation departments, and tribes, on a competitive basis.  Projects will be evaluated by criteria defined in federal law and in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including the applicant’s demonstration of need, the project’s benefits, project implementation strategy, and capacity for implementing the project.

The NOFO also includes criteria regarding rural challenges and innovation, in accordance with the R.O.U.T.E.S. and Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) initiatives.

Instructions for applying can be found on FTA’s website and in GRANTS.GOV (funding opportunity FTA-2020-005-LowNo). Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV "APPLY" function by March 17, 2020.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 appropriated $130 million in FY 2020 for grants under the Low-No Program, authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5339(c). In FY 2019, the program received applications for 157 projects requesting a total of $500 million. Thirty-eight projects were funded at a total of $84.95 million.