USDOT to provide $226.5m to improve transit bus service

The US Department of Transportation’s (USDoT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is to provide nearly $226.5m in competitive grant funding for transit bus projects.  

FTA will provide the bus infrastructure grants to the eligible recipients, states or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service and native American tribes.

The projects will be assessed by criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

FTA executive director Matthew Welbes said: “Transit buses account for more than five billion passenger trips every year, providing vital connections to jobs and economic opportunities.

“These grants will help more communities bring their transit infrastructure into a much-needed state of good repair.”

Approved by Congress, the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program is intended to improve the condition of bus infrastructure across the country by funding the replacement and rehabilitation of buses and related facilities. 

The programme allocates a minimum of 10%, which is equivalent $22.6m for the rural bus needs.

In order to receive the grant, all the applicants must meet the Buy America regulations, which requires all iron, steel or manufactured products to be produced in the US, as well as final assembly of vehicles.

The projects that replace, rehabilitate, lease and purchase buses and related equipment will be eligible for this grants, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, construct or lease bus-related facilities such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.

Currently, transit service providers across the country are facing a maintenance backlog of nearly $90bn, according to USDoT’s Conditions & Performance report.

The application period will close on 25 August this year.