Fort Wayne Citilink Receives $2.5M Discretionary Grant Award

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration has announced approximately $264 million in project selections to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility. Demand for Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program discretionary grants far exceed available funds, FTA received applications for 453 eligible projects totaling over $2 billion in funding from 53 States and territories.

Fort Wayne Citilink is fortunate to receive one of these coveted grants, for the full amount requested. The grant provides an 80 percent federal share for the following projects:

• Four 40 foot ultra-low Sulphur bio-diesel hybrid buses (many bus parts manufactured in Indiana)

• On-board bus security camera system upgrade

• Bus mechanic workforce development training (including coursework from Ivy Tech Northeast Diesel Technology Program)

“These funds will not only help us get people to their jobs safely in new buses with state of the art security systems, they will help support Indiana jobs related to bus manufacturing, and also facilitate training for our mechanics using local resources” said acting Citilink General Manager Betsy Kachmar.