Official Low-No Program tally will see 38 projects benefiting from grants

July 29, 2019
The grants will help 38 projects purchase or lease low or no emission vehicles that use advanced technologies for transit revenue operations.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released the full list of grant recipients to receive $84.9 million in funds through the Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Grant program on July 26. 

The program funds the deployment of transit buses and infrastructure that use advanced propulsion technologies. The FY19 awards will go to 38 projects in an equal amount of states.

"These grants will help communities nationwide bring the next generation of bus technology to enhance their transportation systems," said Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Eligible projects include the purchase or lease of buses powered by modern, efficient technologies. These include hydrogen fuel cells, battery electric engines and related infrastructure investments such as charging stations.

"Since its establishment, FTA’s Low-No program has funded over $300 million in new buses, infrastructure, and training, helping create and maintain American jobs in a fast-growing industry," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.

Congressional offices began releasing information about grants in their districts last week. The grants range between $284,759 and $3 million. The smallest grant was awarded to Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation to fund the purchase of a single battery electric bus along with an electric charging station and workforce training. Three of the 38 projects received $3 million including Valley Regional Transit in Idaho, city of St. George, Utah, for SunTran and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. A full list of grant recipients can be found on FTA’s website.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. 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 serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.