The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $366.3 million in FY 2018 competitive grant funding for transit bus projects nationwide.
The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program is authorized by Congress to improve the condition of bus infrastructure nationwide by funding the replacement and rehabilitation of buses and related facilities. Projects eligible for this funding opportunity include those that replace, rehabilitate, lease, or purchase buses and related equipment as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, construct, or lease bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.
FTA will award the Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment grants to designated recipients, states and local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service as well as Native American tribes. Projects will be evaluated by criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The program allocates a minimum of 10%—$36.6 million—to rural bus needs. The application period will close on August 6, 2018.
Federal public transportation law authorizes FTA’s competitive Grants for Buses & Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program through FY 2020. Funding for the program was increased by 76%, or $161 million in FY 2018, by the FY 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act. In addition, the FY 2017 Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program funded 139 projects to 52 states and territories totaling nearly $264.5 million.
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Source: Federal Transit Administration