Transit providers will be able to compete for a share of $101.4 million in federal funding by proposing innovative projects that create ‘green’ jobs, promote the use of clean fuels and reduce the nation's dependence on oil.

The money is being provided competitively through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Sustainability Initiative, which includes: $51.5 million from the Clean Fuels Grant Program and $49.9 million from the Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) III Program.

Clean Fuels grant recipients will be chosen through a competitive selection process based on their ability to help communities achieve or maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide, while supporting emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses, according to federal officials.

TIGGER III grants, which will also use a competitive selection process, will be awarded based on a project’s ability to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and provide a return on the investment.

Last year's 63 winning projects involved an array of environmental innovations, such as installing energy-efficient technologies at transit facilities, replacing traditional diesel-powered buses with low- or zero-emission vehicles, and building compressed natural gas fueling stations. Last year’s winning proposals, chosen from among 274 applications from across the U.S. Click here.

In addition to announcing competitive funds available through the Sustainability Initiative, the FTA also issued similar notices for two additional competitive programs: the $750 million State of Good Repair Initiative, which targets U.S. transit agencies' maintenance and repair backlogs, and the $175 million Livability Expansion Initiative, which will fund investments that support the DOT-HUD-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

For a list of all FTA FY 2011 Discretionary Funding Program, click here.