The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the availability of up to $409.6 million in competitive grant funds for building and maintaining transit buses and vans in communities throughout the U.S.
The Buses and Bus Facilities Program is FTA’s largest annual discretionary package, and it provides the opportunity to compete for grants helping transit agencies buy and rehabilitate buses, vans, and related equipment, and build bus facilities, according to a press release.
FTA is encouraging applicants to submit projects that will help improve air quality and promote environmental justice. As part of the Administration's focus on fighting climate change, FTA encourages applicants to consider significant community benefits related to the environment, including those projects that incorporate low- or no-emission technology or specific elements to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts.
"Transit operators nationwide have an opportunity to replace aging buses and facilities with newer, cleaner infrastructure that is more efficient to operate and maintain," FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said in a statement. "Modern buses, particularly those powered with battery-electric or fuel cells, improve air quality and help us address the climate crisis."
FTA also encourages applicants to consider projects that encourage racial equity in planning and policies, and project investments that either proactively address racial equity and barriers to opportunity, including automobile dependence as a form of barrier, or redress prior inequities and barriers to opportunity.
FTA says as part of its commitment to helping transit workers keep up with technological advancements, recipients will be encouraged to use up to 0.5% of their grant award for workforce development activities and an additional 0.5% for costs associated with training at the National Transit Institute.
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SOURCE: Federal Transit Administration
