FTA awards three BRT projects with combined $164.1 million

Sept. 27, 2021

The funding is provided to the projects through the Capital Investment Grants Program and will help riders in Utah, New York state and Washington state better connect with services and jobs.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

CDTA will use its CIG funding to deliver the region's third BRT route. The Washington Western BRT will connect the downtown Albany Bus Terminal to Crossgates Mall.

Three bus rapid transit (BRT) projects in Odgen, Utah, Albany, N.Y., and Vancouver, Wash., have been awarded a combined $164.1 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the projects will help connect people to jobs, education and other services, such as health care, in an environmentally-friendly way.

The three projects to receive CIG Program grants include:

Utah Transit Authority (UTA), which received $78.3 million for the Ogden-Weber State University BRT project;
Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), which received $60.9 million for the Albany Washington Western BRT project; and
Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area (C-TRAN), which received $24.9 million for the Mill Plain BRT Project.

A rendering showing a stop on UTA's OGX.

The $120.5-million UTA Ogden-Weber State University BRT will connect the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center FrontRunner station and the McKay-Dee Hospital via Weber State University (WSU) along 5.3 miles with 13 stations. This is the second BRT route for UTA and the route will be named OGX, which stands for Ogden Express. The Ogden, Utah, project includes the construction of 2.2 miles of exclusive bus lanes on the WSU campus, as well as a new WSU campus transit center and the expansion of UTA’s existing Mount Odgen Maintenance facility. The BRT route will feature transit signal priority, the purchase of 11 electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

"FTA is proud to join our partners in Utah to improve transit connections and expand the Bus Rapid Transit network in Ogden," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "Transit riders on the Ogden-Weber State University BRT line can look forward to more efficient service and other amenities that will improve travel times in this busy corridor."

In Albany, N.Y., CDTA’s 8.5-mile, $77.7-million Washington Western BRT will connect the downtown Albany Bus Terminal through the Harriman State Office Campus and the State University of New York at Albany (UAlbany) to Crossgates Mall. The service is the third BRT route for CDTA and includes a one-mile semi exclusive busway across the UAlbany campus, limited stops, 16 buses, transit signal priority, queue bypass lanes, real-time bus arrival information and the expansion of the existing Albany bus maintenance garage.

"The Albany region has so much to offer and FTA is proud to join our partners in New York in connecting the Capital District with Bus Rapid Transit," said FTA Administrator Fernandez.

C-TRAN will use the CIG Program funding to construct its second route for its BRT service, which is branded as The Vine.

The $49.9-million Mill Plain BRT will be C-TRAN’s second BRT line and will connect downtown and east Vancouver with frequent, reliable, green and safe service. The 9.9-mile project includes larger vehicles, enhanced stations, among other improvements and is expected to open in 2023. A groundbreaking is planned for the project on Sept. 28, 2021.

"FTA is proud to join our partners in Washington to expand bus rapid transit service and improve transit connections to downtown Vancouver and other important destinations," said FTA Administrator Fernandez.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.

Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.