The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced on Monday $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities. Funded by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), more than 1,100 of those vehicles will use zero-emissions technology, which reduces air pollution and helps meet the Biden Administration's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. According to a press release by USDOT, this year’s funding alone will nearly double the number of no-emission transit buses on America’s roadways.
“With today's awards, we’re helping communities across America – in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike – purchase more than 1,800 new buses, and most of them are zero-emission,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this announcement means more good jobs for people across the country, cleaner air in our communities, and more affordable and reliable options to help people get to where they need to go.”
The bus grant awards are the first selections under the IIJA. They were made under the FTA's Buses and Bus Facilities Program and the Low- And No-Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No). The programs support the Biden Administration’s commitment to expand our nation’s transportation infrastructure, create and maintain good-paying jobs, and fight climate change.
“When a transit door opens, whether it is a bus, train, or ferry, it is a great equalizer for everyone in our nation,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “With this tremendous amount of funding, the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gives more Americans access to the opportunities that transit creates, more often, in more places. These investments also help us meet our goals of cutting transportation emissions, creating good-paying American manufacturing jobs, and helping America’s transit workers prepare for new vehicle technology.”
The FTA's Low-No Program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built low- or no-emission vehicles, including related equipment or facilities. The IIJA provides $5.5 billion over five years for the Low-No Program which is more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding. For Fiscal Year 2022, approximately $1.1 billion was available for grants under this program.
The FTA's Buses and Bus Facilities Program supports transit agencies in buying and rehabilitating buses and vans and building bus maintenance facilities. The IIJA provides nearly $2 billion over five years for the program. For Fiscal Year 2022, approximately $550 million for grants was available under this program.
In response to the Notice of Funding Opportunity, FTA received 530 eligible project proposals totaling approximately $7.72 billion in requests.
You can find the list of projects here.
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Source: USDOT
