AASHTO Journal - FTA Awards $2B to 165 Transit Systems Nationwide

In late November, the Federal Transit Administration issued $2 billion from its Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission Grant Program to 165 transit systems in 45 states and Washington, D.C. The FTA said those funds will help modernize America’s bus infrastructure as well as add 2,400 new buses to the nation’s transit fleet.

[Above photo by WSDOT]

FTA noted that its Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program supports capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, buy, or lease buses and related equipment and to rehabilitate, buy, build, or lease bus-related facilities. For fiscal year 2025, approximately $400 million was made available through this program.

Concurrently, FTA’s Low or No Emission Program awards funds on a competitive basis for transit agencies to buy or lease low-emission or zero-emission transit buses, along with related equipment and facilities. For FY 2025, approximately $1.1 billion was made available. In addition, through advance appropriations, FTA said it added $518 million in FY 2026 funding through the Low or No Emission Program.

“Whether it’s to church, school, or work, more people travel by bus than any other form of public transportation,” noted Sean Duffy, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, in a statement. “With these grants, thousands of new buses will hit the road and infrastructure will be upgraded—making public transit more efficient, affordable and safe for American families.”

“Transit buses provide a vital service for millions of Americans every day,” added FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro. “These grants will strengthen connections between communities, boost bus safety, and reliability, and enhance mobility and quality of life for passengers.”

Several state departments of transportation received funds on behalf of local transit operations through those two programs. They are:

The California Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority, will receive more than $3 million to construct an Operations and Maintenance Facility and more than $8 million to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life. It will also receive more than $7 million on behalf of the Humboldt Transit Authority to buy new buses to replace older models that have exceeded their useful life.
The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of the City of Steamboat Springs Transit, will receive $1.5 million to buy new hybrid buses to increase capacity and deliver a safer, more efficient, and reliable transit service. It will also receive, on behalf of Eagle Valley Transportation Authority, just over $1 million to construct new bus shelters at rural transit stops where none currently exist or where existing shelters have exceeded their useful life; $786,000 on behalf of Gunnison Valley Transportation Authority to buy a commuter bus to replace an older bus that is at the end of its useful life; $534,000 on behalf of the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation to buy new buses to replace older units; $14.4 million on behalf of Mountain Express for the construction of a bus storage, maintenance, and operations facility in the Crested Butte region; $256,000 on behalf of Mountain Express to buy new buses to replace older models; over $6.7 million on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority in rural western Colorado to buy new buses to replace older units; over $3.7 million on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority to buy new hybrid buses to replace aging units; and just over $1 million on behalf of the Town of Winter Park to rehabilitate its Winter Park Transit Maintenance Facility.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation will receive $35.7 million to rehabilitate a transit facility in Mansfield, CT.
The Iowa Department of Transportation will receive more than $27.8 million to buy new buses and vans, replacing older vehicles for 14 of Iowa’s transit systems. Also, on behalf of four rural transit systems, Iowa DOT will receive nearly $20 million to buy buses to replace older buses and to construct or expand three bus facilities.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will receive more than $12.3 million on behalf of 11 rural transit agencies to buy buses for expansion purposes, replace older buses and upgrade technology on vehicles.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – a division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – will receive more than $78.5 million to buy new hybrid buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.
The Maryland Department of Transportation, on behalf of Charles County, will receive just over $10 million to construct a new operations and maintenance facility.
The Maine Department of Transportation, on behalf of four bus transit providers, will receive just over $1 million to buy new vans to replace older vehicles and to rehabilitate a maintenance facility.
The Michigan Department of Transportation, on behalf of three local transit agencies, will receive just over $12 million to replace aging buses with new hybrid and propane vehicles. It will also receive, on behalf of 17 rural transit agencies, just over $30 million to buy buses to replace older vehicles and construct or renovate facilities to enhance transportation services across the state.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation, on behalf of 27 rural transit systems, will receive just over $7.3 million to buy new paratransit vehicles to replace older vehicles that have reached their useful life. Also, on behalf of six rural transit agencies, MnDOT will receive more than $4.4 million to replace aging buses with new propane vehicles and install supporting fueling infrastructure. MnDOT will also receive, on behalf of Community Transit of United Community Action Partnership – a rural transit system – more than $6.1 million for the construction of two new transit facilities in Southwestern Minnesota.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation, on behalf of the South Central Regional Transit District, will receive more than $4 million to buy new hybrid buses to implement a new route.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation, on behalf of seven rural transit agencies, will receive more than $4.4 million to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.
The Oregon Department of Transportation, on behalf of Benton Area Transit, will receive $833,000 to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life and, on behalf of the Coos County Area Transportation District, Oregon DOT will receive more than $8.8 million to construct a multi-modal transfer hub to improve transit operations and community access. Also, on behalf of the Umpqua Public Transportation District, Oregon DOT will receive more than $2.2 million to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life and, on behalf of the Yamhill County Transit Area, Oregon DOT will receive nearly $2 million to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on behalf of three rural transit agencies, will receive $2 million to buy new compressed natural gas-powered buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation, on behalf of three rural transit agencies, will receive more than $1.1 million to buy new buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.
The Texas Department of Transportation, on behalf of 27 rural transit agencies, will receive $36 million to build a new operations and maintenance facility and to buy new buses to replace older vehicles that have reached their useful life.
The Washington State Department of Transportation, on behalf of Grant Transit Authority, will receive more than $3.8 million to purchase new hybrid buses to replace aging buses past their useful life. Also, WSDOT, on behalf of Okanogan County Transit Authority, will receive more than $9.2 million to construct facilities for administration, operations, and maintenance.