US transportation secretary announces $423M for bus infrastructure

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will award $423 million in transit infrastructure grants nationwide to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility for transit riders. A total of 94 projects in 42 states and the District of Columbia will receive funding from FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. A list of the selected projects is available online.

"Public bus systems throughout the country provide millions of Americans access to jobs, healthcare, grocery stores, and other vital services," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The funding supports projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, and construct bus-related facilities.

"More people travel by bus than any other form of public transportation," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "This Administration is committed to rebuilding our nation’s transportation infrastructure and helping to improve bus service nationwide."

Among the projects selected to receive funding:

• In Arizona, two projects will receive a total of $17.4 million, including approximately $17.3 million to the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority to construct a new Downtown Connection Center in Flagstaff and purchase all-electric buses; and $160,000 to the White Mountain Apache Tribe to purchase new vehicles and expand transit service for tribal residents.
   
• In Michigan, the City of Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Flint Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) will receive a total of $12.8 million, including $8.5 million to modernize Detroit’s fare collection system on buses and $4.3 million to help Flint purchase new buses that will replace diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life.
   
• In North Carolina, three projects will receive a total of $24.5 million, including $17.3 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help several rural transit systems replace vehicles and construct public transportation facilities throughout the state; as well as $6.8 million to the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation and $480,000 to the City of Salisbury to purchase new vehicles to replace those that have exceeded their useful life.

Demand for FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received applications for 318 eligible projects totaling approximately $1.9 billion in funding requests, from a total of 270 applicants in 43 states and territories. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Federal public transportation law (49 USC § 5339(b)), as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, authorizes FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program through FY2020.

In Fiscal Year 2019, FTA has made available more than $12 billion in funding through both formula and competitive grant programs to support public transportation.

About FTA

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries. FTA also oversees safety measures and helps develop next-generation technology research.