The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $423.3 million in Fiscal Year 2019 competitive grant funding for transit bus projects.

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program is authorized to improve the condition of bus infrastructure by funding the replacement and rehabilitation of buses and related facilities.

Projects eligible for this funding opportunity include those that would replace, rehabilitate, lease, or purchase buses and related equipment. Other eligible projects involve purchasing, rehabilitating, constructing, or leasing bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.

FTA will award the grants to eligible recipients, including fixed-route bus operators, states, and local governmental entities that operate fixed-route bus service, and Indian tribes. Projects will be evaluated by criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. As required by law, the program allocates a minimum of 10% of its funding to rural bus needs.

In the previous round of grants, the FY 2018 Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program funded 107 projects in 50 states and territories totaling $366.2 million.