The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County received a $40.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for RTC’s Virginia Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Extension project in Reno, Nev.
The transit infrastructure project will improve mobility and transit service in the Virginia Street corridor by offering higher frequency, faster and more reliable service, along with safer and more convenient access to stations.
“This $40.4 million in federal funding will help connect residents to jobs and educational opportunities and support continued economic growth in downtown Reno,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The Virginia Street BRT Extension project expands rapid transit service by 1.8 miles from its current northern endpoint in downtown Reno to the University of Nevada, Reno. The project also upgrades 1.4 miles of the existing BRT system from downtown Reno south to the Midtown District. The total project cost is $114.9 million, including a request of $40.4 million in federal transit infrastructure grants.
U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement in regards to the project funding: “The Reno Virginia Street BRT Extension Project has already transformed Midtown, and we’re pleased the Department of Transportation has released the over $40 million in grant funding needed to complete this project. With these funds in hand, RTC Washoe can take the next steps to extend public transit services to the university, improve pedestrian safety and upgrade infrastructure vital to Midtown’s growing economy. We’ll continue to work together to secure the federal funding and bipartisan infrastructure legislation needed to improve accessibility for our communities and bolster Northern Nevada’s growing economy.”
Support for the Virginia Street BRT project is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, which provides funding for major transit infrastructure projects nationwide. Transit infrastructure projects accepted into the CIG program must meet rigorous requirements in law through a multi-year, multi-step process to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.
“FTA is proud to join our partners in Nevada to improve public transportation in the downtown Reno area,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “The extension to the Virginia Street BRT line will provide faster and more efficient service, improving mobility for the thousands of riders who use this system every day.”
Since Jan. 20, 2017, FTA has advanced funding for 25 new CIG projects throughout the nation totaling approximately $7.63 billion in funding commitments. With today’s infrastructure funding agreement, this administration has executed 17 CIG funding agreements totaling more than $3.57 billion in CIG funding.
