GCRTA awarded $11.5 million from two ODOT transit funding programs

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) awarded $11.5 million to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) from two ODOT transit funding programs.  

The first award of $8 million will go towards GCRTA’s Rail Car Replacement Program. That funding comes from ODOT’s Ohio Transit Partnership Program (OTP2).  

“This is the third year that ODOT has awarded funding to the Rail Car Replacement Program and brings the total ODOT funding to $21.4 million,” said GCRTA Deputy General Manager Engineering & Project Management Mike Schipper. “With this award GCRTA has now raised $197.5 million of the $300 million total program budget.” 

The second award of $3.5 million will go towards GCRTA’s Bus Improvement Program. That funding comes from ODOT’s Urban Transit Program (UTP). Those funds will be used to replace six 40-foot diesel buses with six environmentally friendly 40-foot Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses. 

“This funding will assist GCRTA in moving forward in our plans to upgrade our rail and bus fleets,” said GCRTA CEO and General Manager India Birdsong. “Funding opportunities such as these underscore the importance of public transportation to our region and subsequent investment in our communities. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this round of funding and appreciate ODOT’s continued support of our Rail car and Bus Replacement programs.”