Kentucky awards more than $10 million to transit's clean air projects
More than $10 million was awarded to Kentucky transit providers in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grants that will be used to improve air quality and enhance safety.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced the federal funding distribution on April 2. The CMAQ grants will help purchase new electric buses, expand transit service and build multimodal improvements. Recipients of CMAQ funds provide a 20 percent local match and are responsible for executing the project.
Lextran in Lexington, Ky., will receive a $1.4 million to purchase two electric buses that will replace existing diesel buses that are beyond their useful life. Lextran explains that at the end of 2018, about 42 percent of its current fleet was at or beyond its useful life. Overnight charging of the vehicles will take place at Lextran’s facility on Loudon Avenue.
“With this grant Lextran will replace aging diesel buses in our fleet. More importantly, it allows us to continue serving our passengers by connecting them to the community in a more modern and emissions-free vehicle,” said Carrie Butler, Lextran general manager.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government received $2.7 million for multimodal improvements and a trail crossing project. The funds will help with sidewalk improvements, as well as pedestrian and bike lane enhancements.
The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) was awarded $2.2 million to replace four diesel buses with four electric-hybrid buses in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government and Transit Authority of River City (TARC) received $2.7 million to purchase two electric vehicles and expand service areas. Approximately $1.1 million will be applied toward the TARC Outer Loop Circulator, which is an expansion of service to the outer loop corridor and provide a connection between homes and jobs in the South Central Metro area. TARC said the funding will add eight peak morning and eight peak afternoon weekday trips along the corridor from Iroquois Park to Renaissance Business Center and Commerce Crossings via National Turnpike, Outer Loop and Preston Highway. TARC will also use $1.56 million to purchase two electric buses to replace two diesel buses as TARC continues its efforts to move toward a diesel free fleet.
The Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government received $1.45 million for signal system upgrades and research. The funding will be applied toward the Connection 21 project, which calls for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure improvements, including the purchase and installation of signal controllers, project management/networking engineer support, training, traffic signal synchronization, data management and research.
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.
