AASHTO Journal - FTA Issues $1.5B to Support Public Transit Bus Projects

The Federal Transit Administration recently issued roughly $1.5 billion in grants to support 117 public transportation projects in 47 states; projects centered mainly on transit bus operations.

[Above image by FTA]

For these fiscal year 2024 grant selections, the FTA said in a statement that it prioritized awards that will help strengthen U.S. bus manufacturing, stabilize the cost of new buses, and accelerate the delivery of new vehicles.

Of the 117 projects selected by FTA for fiscal support via this round of grant funding, more than 26 are overseen by state departments of transportation:

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, on behalf of City and Borough of Juneau and Capital Transit, received more than $11.8 million to buy new electric buses, install charging equipment, and initiate a workforce development program. The project will improve service, reliability and air quality throughout the city and borough of Juneau in Alaska’s Southeast panhandle.
The California Department of Transportation received four separate grants on behalf of local transit providers to help replace older buses with newer models: $474,478 on behalf of the Redwood Coast Transit Authority in Crescent City; $154,367 on behalf of the Lassen Transit Service Agency; $639,000 on behalf of Humboldt Transit Authority in Eureka; and $131,168 on behalf of the Morongo Basin Transit Authority to buy an all-electric bus to replace an older vehicle.
The Colorado Department of Transportation received more than $32.8 million on behalf of Roaring Fork Transportation Authority to modernize its Glenwood Springs Operations and Maintenance Facility to support its planned zero-emission bus fleet; more than $1.9 million on behalf of the town of Telluride to modernize the Galloping Goose Transit Maintenance Facility; more than $4.5 million on behalf of Eagle Valley Transportation Authority to buy new hybrid-electric buses; $659,089 on behalf of Durango Transit to replace aging buses and improve safety at several bus stops; more than $1.5 million on behalf of Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority to buy new buses; and $418,349 on behalf of Archuleta County Mountain Express Transit to build a new park-and-ride facility in Aspen Springs.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation received more than $38.8 million to buy new all-electric buses to replace diesel buses, including on the Central Connecticut CTFastrak BRT, and supply bus depots facilities with chargers.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation received $5 million on behalf of the County of Maui to buy hybrid electric buses to replace older diesel models.
The Idaho Transportation Department received more than $4.2 million on behalf of Mountain Rides Transit Authority to buy all-electric buses and charging equipment as part of MRTA’s plan to transition to a 100 percent all-electric fleet.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation received more than $3.8 million on behalf of Martha’s Vineyard Transit to buy new all-electric buses and charging equipment plus launch an apprenticeship program for high school students.
The Maine Department of Transportation received over $3.2 million to help four local transit agencies rehabilitate their transit facilities and buses.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation received more than $6.2 million on behalf of Cedar Valley Services to build two new transit facilities and $2.3 million behalf of United Community Action Partnership-Community Transit and Friendly Rider Transit buy propane-powered buses and build propane refueling infrastructure.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation received more than $9.8 million on behalf of the North Central Regional Transit District to renovate the Jim West Regional Transit Center and the South Central Regional Transit District to help buy a new hybrid-electric bus and build a new transit facility in Las Cruces.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation received more than $1.6 million to add propane-powered buses for three local transit agency fleets – River Cities Public Transit, Prairie Hills Transit, and People’s Transit.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation received more than $7.7 million on behalf of the Southwest Human Resource Agency to build a new facility to enhance bus service and operations in an eight-county region in the southwest part of the state.
The Texas Department of Transportation received more than $28.8 million to replace transit vehicles and complete bus facility projects for 30 regional transportation districts, while helping rural transit fleets achieve a state of good repair.
The Utah Department of Transportation received more than $16.2 million on behalf of the High Valley Transit District to replace and expand its aging fleet with new all-electric buses.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation received more than $2.3 million to help three transit agencies make the transition to electric buses, including upgrades to electrical and fire systems, acquisition of a mobile charger, and funding worker training.
The Washington State Department of Transportation received more than $3.6 million on behalf of Clallam Transit System to buy new buses and more than $14.9 million on behalf of Island Transit to buy hydrogen fuel cell buses.