The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it is awarding American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to King County Metro Transit ($395.6 million), TriMet ($289.1 million) and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) ($285.7 million).

These funds are intended to help transit agencies maintain service and jobs as communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Public transportation has been a lifeline for communities and the American people throughout this pandemic,” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. transportation secretary. “This funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will help protect transit employees from layoffs, keep transit service running, and ensure people can get where they need to go.”

This funding is part of more than $30 billion for public transportation in the American Rescue Plan Act which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11 of this year. The funding comes from the $26.6 billion allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, tribal governments, and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Act also included $2.2 billion for additional transit pandemic-associated need, which will be awarded next year. No local share is required for this funding.

“As our nation’s transit systems recover from COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan funds ensure that they continue to provide service to the many Americans who depend on transit to get to essential jobs, healthcare and vaccine appointments,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.