National Park Service receives $27.5 million FHWA grant for bus replacement
In early July, the Federal Highway Administration awarded $27.5 million to the National Park Service (NPS) through the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program.
The grant will be used by NPS for the Grand Canyon National Park Shuttle Bus Fleet Replacement project in Arizona. NPS reports an estimated 6 million people use the free shuttle buses annually to access destinations throughout the Grand Canyon.
“Grand Canyon National Park is one of our most beloved national parks,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This grant, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help ensure safe and reliable bus service for park visitors for decades to come.”
The project includes replacing aging vehicles with 30 new buses consisting of a mix of 20 compressed natural gas vehicles and 10 battery electric vehicles. The grant will also support the installation of charging infrastructure for the new electric buses.
“The necessary replacement of the outdated shuttle bus fleet is an opportunity to upgrade to cleaner, quieter electric buses,” said Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable. “This project will address transportation challenges related to maintaining an aging fleet and the NPS goal to achieve sustainable transportation alternatives.”
The project was one of seven projects to receive a combined $130.5 million through the FHWA’s Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program. The program provides funding for the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of nationally significant projects within, adjacent to or accessing federal and Tribal lands.
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.
