Dive Brief:
- The Federal Transit Administration opened $610 million in transit agency bus grants Monday under two competitive programs focused on zero- or low-emission buses and bus facilities, according to a press release. The FTA said it intends to prioritize low-emission projects over zero-emission projects, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
- Approximately $589 million for the Low or No Emission bus program will help state and local authorities acquire zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and related infrastructure, according to the notice of funding opportunity. About $21 million is available through the Buses and Bus Facilities program, which can be used to purchase, rehabilitate or lease buses and bus-related facilities.
- The FTA announced a separate $22 million funding round Wednesday under two public transit infrastructure programs to improve operator and passenger safety, build new maintenance facilities, improve scheduling systems for people with accessibility issues, implement contactless payment systems and “acquire transit vehicles with family-friendly features,” according to a press release.
Dive Insight:
Funding for the FTA’s bus programs comes from the mass transit account of the Highway Trust Fund and is authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for fiscal year 2026, the law's final year.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy proposed eliminating the mass transit account in a July 22 letter to six senators serving on committees with influence over the next surface transportation legislation. “By eliminating both the Mass Transit Account and advance appropriations, USDOT would strip all guaranteed funding from transit formula grants, which would have an outsized impact on rural and smaller communities that depend most on federal support to provide critical public transit services,” the American Public Transportation Association said in a July 24 statement.
The FTA hasn’t signed any new Capital Investment Grants since the beginning of the Trump administration, according to a New York Times report published Monday. These discretionary grants fund capital investments for heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit systems.
Calstart, a clean energy transportation advocacy organization, said in an email that state and local governments seeking funds for transit bus systems should begin planning to apply for the grants, which are due Sept. 21.
To access the FTA’s $22 million funding round, two grant programs are available. For its Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility program, $12 million is available to help expand public transportation access for people with disabilities, with applications due Sept. 9. For the Bus Safety and Accessibility and Innovation Research program, $10 million is available for research into standard bus designs and prototypes that make buses safer for operators and riders, with applications due Sept. 28.
