Management

FTA allocated more than $2.5 billion in ARP funds to transit agencies in August

Sept. 10, 2021

The funding is part of the $30 billion provided to the transit industry through the American Rescue Plan.

RTD was one of seven agencies to receive grants from the FTA made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Seven large transit agencies were awarded more than $2.5 billion in COVID-19 emergency relief funds in August from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The funds are part of the $30 billion included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the U.S. transit industry to use to maintain services and jobs.

“Public transportation has been a lifeline for communities and the American people throughout this pandemic,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will help protect transit employees from layoffs, keep transit service running and ensure people can get where they need to go.”

The seven agencies to receive ARP grant awards include:

$859.6 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston;
$255.7 million to New Jersey Transit;
$163.9 million to Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in California;
$330.8 million to the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) in San Francisco;
$304.2 million to the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Colorado;
$298.6 million to Houston METRO and
$288.2 million to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

“As our nation’s transit systems recover from COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan funds ensure that they continue to provide service to the many Americans who depend on transit to get to essential jobs, healthcare and vaccine appointments,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.

FTA explains the funding comes from the $26.6 billion allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, tribal governments and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The act also included $2.2 billion for additional transit pandemic-associated need, which will be awarded later this year. No local share is required for this funding.