The Lafayette Transit System has secured nearly $3 million in competitive federal funding to replace aging buses, upgrade maintenance equipment and continue modernizing public transportation in Lafayette Parish.

Lafayette Consolidated Government announced Tuesday that the transit system received $2.985 million in Federal Transit Administration grants administered through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

The funding was awarded through the redistribution of unused federal transit dollars. Lafayette was one of only a few transit systems in Louisiana selected to receive the competitive grants.

The awards include:

• $1.785 million through the Federal Transit Administration's Rural Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities Program.
• $1.2 million through the FTA's Section 5307 Small Urban Areas Program.

The funding, combined with a required local match, will pay for:

• Replacing buses that have exceeded their service life.
• Upgrading the compressed natural gas fueling facility.
• Installing heavy-duty vehicle maintenance lifts.
• Modernizing the diesel fueling system.

Officials said the improvements are expected to increase fleet reliability, improve maintenance operations, reduce downtime and lower long-term operating costs.

The grants also build on the transit system's ongoing fleet modernization effort. Five new 35-foot Gillig low-floor buses recently entered service, with three serving Lafayette Transit System routes and two leased to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The buses include onboard Wi-Fi, digital passenger information displays, a nine-camera surveillance system, rear backup cameras, advanced driver-assistance technology and improved accessibility features.

Five additional buses are expected to arrive in early 2027.

Once those vehicles are delivered, Lafayette Transit System will have added 14 new buses as part of a $9.6 million fleet modernization effort. Officials said Lafayette Consolidated Government has invested about $12 million in federal and local funding in the transit system over the past three years.

Mayor-President Monique Boulet said the investment will help improve reliability while supporting the region's transportation needs.

Transit and Parking Manager Michael Mitchell said the funding will allow the system to replace aging equipment and improve service for riders.

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