FTA awards $182 million in FY21 Low-No grants to 49 projects
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released the 49 project recipients to receive a portion of the $182 million in grants awarded through the Fiscal Year 2021 Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Grant Program.
FTA's Low-No Program supports transit agencies in purchasing or leasing low- or no-emission buses and other transit vehicles that use technologies such as battery electric and fuel-cell. This year's funding opportunity prioritized applications with an environmental justice component, as well as those that support workforce development.
"Public transit connects people to jobs, services and loved ones – and when our transit buses produce low or zero emissions, it's an even bigger win for communities," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "There is overwhelming demand to support low and no emission transit all around the country – in both rural and urban areas – and meeting this need is a matter of climate responsibility and public health."
Last week, congressional offices issued statements accounting for roughly $30 million of the available grant funds. The official release of projects to benefit from the program from FTA provides a clearer understanding of the reach of the program with rural, tribal, suburban and urban systems benefiting from the grant program.
The grants range from slightly more than $611,000, which was awarded to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona for the purchase of new vehicles to replace diesel vehicles, to more than $7.4 million, which was awarded to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for the purchase of battery-electric buses and the upgrade of its Waterbury bus facility.
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority in western Massachusetts was awarded a $7.2 million grant to purchase battery-electric buses and provide workforce development and training on electric fleet maintenance and management.
The funding break down of the 49 grant recipients is:
- Two were awarded grants worth more than $7 million,
- Four were awarded grants worth more than $6 million,
- Ten were awarded grants worth more than $5 million,
- Six were awarded grants worth more than $4 million,
- Seven were awarded grants worth more than $3 million,
- Eleven were awarded grants worth more than $2 million,
- Six were awarded grants worth more than $1 million and
- Three were awarded grants worth more than $600,000.
"The Federal Transit Administration is proud to support our transit partners to upgrade their fleets with newer, cleaner vehicles and facilities," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "These projects are all designed to take dirty buses off the road and replace them with clean, electric models, improving the air we breathe and protecting our planet for future generations."
A full list of grant recipients is available through the FTA’s website.
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.
