The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released official word this morning that a total of 96 projects in 49 states will be awarded $464 million in funds from the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The administration issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the fiscal year 2020 round of grants in January and notified congressional offices of the awards late last week.
"This administration is committed to rebuilding our nation’s transportation infrastructure even through the current COVID-19 crisis, and this $464 million in federal grants will help improve the safety and reliability of transit bus service nationwide as the economy returns," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The funding supports projects to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate and construct bus-related facilities.
"Millions of Americans rely on public transportation to access healthcare, jobs and other vital services," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. “During this unprecedented time, we need to ensure access and mobility for the riders who depend on our nation's bus systems.”
In Florida, five projects will receive a total of $27.8 million to purchase new electric buses and upgrade bus maintenance facilities and infrastructure in the Orlando metropolitan area, Collier County, Hillsborough County, the Jacksonville metropolitan area and Pinellas County.
In Pennsylvania, two projects will receive a total of $11.5 million to construct a new bus maintenance facility in Hazleton in Luzerne County, and purchase new Compressed Natural Gas buses to replace older diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life in Erie County.
In Wisconsin, two projects will receive a total of $7.7 million to purchase new articulated buses to reduce crowding on high demand bus routes in the city of Madison in Dane County, and replace an aging roof on a bus maintenance facility in Milwaukee County.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports demand for FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received 282 applications totaling approximately $1.8 billion in funding requests from 51 states and territories.
A full list of recipients is available on FTA’s website.
