Albany and Jacksonville BRT projects secure a combined $43.5 million in CIG funds

Jan. 28, 2020

CDTA’s River Corridor BRT was awarded $26.9 million and JTA’s First Coast Flyer Southwest Corridor BRT was awarded $16.6 million.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

A rendering of a future stop on CDTA's River Corridor/Blue Line BRT project.

Two bus rapid transit (BRT) projects, one in New York State and the other in Florida, have secured grants totaling $43.5 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) was awarded a $26.9 million grant for the River Corridor BRT project and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) was awarded $16.6 million for the First Coast Flyer Southwest Corridor BRT project.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said both projects would “provide better access to jobs, educational opportunities and other services.”

CDTA’s River Corridor/Blue Line BRT project is a new 16-mile BRT line along the Hudson River connecting Waterford to downtown Albany, N.Y. The project includes 30 stations, transit signal priority, replacement of 10 traffic signals, queue bypass lanes in three locations, real-time bus arrival information and construction of two park and ride facilities. The total project cost is $42.5 million with $26.9 million in funding requested through FTA’s CIG Program.

JTA's First Coast Flyer Southwest Corridor BRT project is the final element of a five-phase plan to bring BRT to the area.

JTA’s $16.6-million CIG grant covers half of the $33.2 million project cost to implement the 12.9-mile First Coast Flyer Southwest Corridor BRT project. JTA is working in coordination with the city of Jacksonville and the Florida Department of Transportation on the BRT line that will connect the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla to the Orange Park Mall in Clay County. The project includes traffic signal priority at 24 intersections, real-time bus arrival information at stations, two queue jump lanes and the purchase of 15 40-foot compressed natural gas buses.

FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams said FTA was proud to work with both CDTA and JTA on projects that will “provide fast and efficient service” while “improving mobility and access.”

These are the third and fourth BRT projects to be awarded CIG funds in a short period of time, with FTA touring the Pacific Northwest last week and awarding BRT projects in Portland, Ore., and Spokane, Wash., with CIG funds, as well as Sound Transit’s Federal Way light-rail extension with CIG funds and a loan.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.

Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.