USDOT Announces $211M in Grants for New Buses, Facilities to Improve Bus Service
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the selections for its Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program that will help provide more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders across the country. Sixty-one projects in 41 states, the Virgin Islands, and Indian Country will receive a share of nearly $211 million to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase transit buses and related equipment, and construct bus-related facilities.
“The Obama Administration is committed to improving transportation options that connect people in rural and urban areas across the country to opportunities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These grants will improve mobility for thousands of transit riders who depend on bus service every day, expanding access to employment, education, healthcare, and other important services in their communities.”
Selected projects include those that replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate and construct bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.
“FTA is proud to partner with state, local and tribal authorities to invest in projects that will help improve the condition of our nation’s public transportation bus fleets,” said FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers. “Maintaining our public transit systems in a state of good repair is vitally important to meet the needs of today’s transit riders and a growing population.”
Demand for FTA’s Bus Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received 284 applications totaling $1.64 billion from 236 applicants in 47 states. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, with priority given to projects that address significant repair and maintenance needs, improve the safety of transit systems, include advanced technologies to connect bus systems with other networks, and support the creation of ladders of opportunity.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in December 2015, authorized FTA’s competitive Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program through 2020.
Projects selected to receive 2016 Bus Program funding:
AK - $12,800,000 - Fairbanks North Star Borough
The Fairbanks North Star Borough will receive funding for the renovation and expansion of its transit facility to accommodate its full bus fleet indoors for maintenance, inspection and storage.
AL - $405,000 - Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority will receive funds to purchase a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus for service in the Birmingham, Alabama region.
AR - $1,653,498 - Central Arkansas Transit Authority (dba Rock Region METRO)
The Central Arkansas Transit Authority in Little Rock will receive funding to purchase CNG buses to replace vehicles that have met their useful life.
AZ - $2,202,522 - Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority
The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority will receive funding to purchase hybrid-electric diesel buses to expand service in Flagstaff on the Mountain Link Line, which links downtown Flagstaff with Northern Arizona University.
AZ - $105,000 - Yavapai-Apache Nation
The Yavapai-Apache Nation in the Verde Valley region of Arizona will receive funding for the purchase of a 14-passenger van to expand transit service, and for the construction of bus stop shelters.
CA - $8,284,000 - San Joaquin Regional Transit District
San Joaquin Regional Transit District will receive funding to replace its aging bus fleet with new hybrid diesel-electric buses.
CA - $10,500,000 - Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will receive funding for the replacement of buses that have met their useful life with CNG buses to operate in the South Bay LA area. LACMTA will also install related CNG infrastructure and train workers on the new technology.
CA - $3,687,100 - Monterey-Salinas Transit
Monterey-Salinas Transit will receive funding for the replacement of buses which have met their useful life, and for a National Training Institute (NTI) workforce development training for workers to learn the new technology.
CA - $695,088 - Sacramento Regional Transit District
Sacramento Regional Transit District will receive funding to replace buses that have met their useful life with new CNG-fueled buses.
CA - $4,280,512 - California Department of Transportation
The California Department of Transportation will receive funding to construct a new maintenance facility in the Monterey-Salinas area, which does not currently have one.
CA - $4,400,000 - Marin County Transit District
Marin County Transit District will receive funding for the design and construction of a new vehicle maintenance and storage facility and an innovative training course on the maintenance and operation of electric and hybrid bus transit vehicles.
CA - $4,000,000 - San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority
San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority will receive funding for the design and construction of a new downtown transit center to replace the current facility.
CA - $5,680,905 - Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District will receive funding to purchase new buses replacing buses that have surpassed their useful life.
CA - $7,240,000 - Foothill Transit
Foothill Transit will receive funding for the design and construction of a transit center near Mt. San Antonio College, a community college in eastern Los Angeles County.
CA - $400,000 - Sacramento Regional Transit District
Sacramento Regional Transit District will receive funding to replace CNG fueling equipment at a bus maintenance facility.
CO - $208,000 - Mesa County
Mesa County will receive funding to purchase replacement diesel buses with wheelchair lifts to accommodate passengers with mobility needs.
FL - $4,273,771 - Hillsborough Transit Authority
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) will receive funding to purchase CNG buses to replace diesel buses that have reached the end of their useful life.
GA - $1,608,880 - Chatham Area Transit Authority
The Chatham Area Transit Authority will receive funding to purchase paratransit vehicles that will operate in Savannah.
HI - $960,000 - State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation
The State of Hawaii's Department of Transportation will receive funding to purchase replacement transit vehicles.
IA - $4,273,771 - Iowa Department of Transportation
The Iowa Department of Transportation will receive funding to replace buses that operate in rural areas and have reached the end of their useful life.
IL - $391,000 - Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (Metrolink)
The Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (Metrolink) will receive funding to replace diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life with CNG buses.
IN - $728,000 - City of Columbus
The City of Columbus will receive funding to purchase transit vehicles to replace vehicles that have reached the end of their useful life.
KY - $5,823,974 - Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will receive funding for expansion and replacement of transit vehicles that serve rural counties throughout the state.
MA - $4,273,771 - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will receive funding for a new Quincy Center Bus Terminal and intermodal enhancements.
MD - $533,575 - Maryland Department of Transportation
The Maryland Department of Transportation will receive funding for its Bus Mini Overhaul Program, a rehabilitation project for buses, and related workforce training in the greater Baltimore region.
ME - $1,441,600 - Maine Department of Transportation
The Maine Department of Transportation will receive funding for the purchase of replacement buses for the Community Connector in the Bangor, Maine area.
MI - $12,800,000 - Mass Transportation Authority
The Mass Transportation Authority will receive funding for the purchase of CNG transit buses for Flint and a workforce development training program for mechanics and drivers.
MN - $103,515 - Metropolitan Council/Metro Transit
The Metropolitan Council/Metro Transit will receive funding to purchase one low floor bus for Minnesota Valley Transit in Dakota and Scott Counties.
MO - $3,870,960 - City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri
The City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri, will receive funding for new buses and workforce development activities.
MO - $8,986,350 - Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority will receive funding for multiple types of buses to replace vehicles that have met their useful life.
MT - $681,450 - Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive funding for buses, vans, and Commercial Drivers License (CDL) training.
NC - $960,000 - City of Greensboro
The City of Greensboro will receive funding to renovate its ticketing, call center, and waiting areas of the J. Douglas Galyon Bus Depot.
ND - $844,000 - North Dakota Department of Transportation
The North Dakota Department of Transportation will receive funding for the replacement of transit vehicles and buses for rural providers in North Dakota.
NE - $2,424,240 - Transit Authority of the City of Omaha (Metro)
The Transit Authority of the City of Omaha (Metro) will receive funding to purchase new CNG buses and partner with local community and workforce development centers to integrate public transit into the local workforce development experience.
NH - $382,500 - New Hampshire Department of Transportation
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will receive funding to purchase new buses and support vehicles for Advance Transit in the Upper Valley/Dartmouth area.
NJ - $2,656,452 - New Jersey Transit Corporation
New Jersey Transit will receive funding to construct a new bus terminal in Passaic, New Jersey.
NM - $1,134,750 - City of Las Cruces
The City of Las Cruces will receive funding to purchase replacement buses for the RoadRUNNER service.
NY - $4,273,771 - New York City Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation will receive funding to construct bus lanes and stations, refurbish bus stops and transfer points, make safety improvements, and upgrade its transit signal priority and signal timing.
OH - $6,691,634 - Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation will receive funding to purchase replacement vehicles for 34 rural transit agencies in Ohio.
OK - $1,932,000 - Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority
The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority will receive funding to purchase new CNG replacement buses for their fixed route service in Oklahoma City.
OK - $3,590,154 - Oklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will receive funding to replace ADA transit vehicles for 10 rural transit providers.
OR - $320,000 - City of Wilsonville (SMART Transit)
The City of Wilsonville (SMART Transit) will receive funding to purchase a replacement bus.
PA - $2,040,000 - River Valley Transit
River Valley Transit will receive funding to purchase new CNG replacement buses in Williamsport.
PA - $4,000,000 - Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
SEPTA will receive funding to rehabilitate the Wissahickon Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown line in Northwest Philadelphia.
PA - $864,000 - Transportation and Motor Buses for Public Use Authority (AMTRAN)
AMTRAN will receive funding to purchase replacement buses in Altoona.
RI - $5,636,745 - Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)
RIPTA will receive funding for the construction of the new Goff Avenue Bus Hub and Passenger Facility and transit corridor improvements.
SC - $6,153,600 - Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments will receive funding to purchase commuter style coaches and related equipment in the Charleston region.
SD - $1,145,850 - City of Sioux Falls
The City of Sioux Falls will receive funding to rehabilitate and modernize its downtown transit station.
TN - $4,273,771 - Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA)
MATA will receive funding to purchase replacement transit buses, saving the system money by deploying new transit technology.
TX - $11,249,240 - Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro)
Capital Metro will receive funding to purchase replacement transit vehicles in the Austin region, supporting the regional mobility partnership between Capital Metro and the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS).
TX - $9,875,083 - City of Laredo & Laredo Transit Management Inc.
The City of Laredo & Laredo Transit Management Inc., will receive funding for the construction and rehabilitation of its El Metro Administration Facility.
TX - $1,376,000 - City of Wichita Falls
The City of Wichita Falls will receive funding to purchase additional buses, reducing headways from one hour to 30 minutes on 3 routes, and adding service to Sheppard Air Force Base.
UT - $4,273,770- Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
UTA will receive funding for a bus replacement and modernization project in Salt Lake City, replacing buses that have surpassed their useful life.
VA - $1,257,393 - Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads Transit will receive funding to replace buses that have surpassed their useful lives, thereby improving passenger service in the Hampton Roads region.
VI - $1,696,405 - Virgin Islands Department of Public Works
The Virgin Islands Department of Public Works will receive funding to rehabilitate its La Reine Bus Facility.
VT - $3,924,000- Vermont Agency of Transportation
The Vermont Agency of Transportation will receive funding to purchase transit buses for Green Mountain Transit.
WA - $2,784,000 - City of Longview
The City of Longview will receive funding for its Downtown Transit Center Expansion project.
WA - $832,000 - City of Longview
The City of Longview will receive funding to purchase low-floor biodiesel buses.
WA - $6,080,000 - Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area
The Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area will receive funding to purchase low-floor, hybrid diesel-electric buses.
WA - $1,000,000 - Spokane Transit Authority
The Spokane Transit Authority will receive funding to construct a multimodal transit center in the West Plains area.
WI - $26,400 - Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will receive funding for the replacement of a side loading accessible mini-van in Tomah, Wisconsin.
Funding Total: $210,990,000