Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Federal Transit Administration Administrator Nuria Fernandez announced Monday that approximately $1.5 billion in grant funds were available to help modernize bus fleets and facilities across the country.
The funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, would help transit agencies purchase new buses, vans, and other bus-related equipment or facilities.
“Manufacturing thousands of new, American-built buses will create jobs all over our nation, offering cleaner, faster and safer rides as we move toward a better transportation future,” Fernandez said. “When transit agencies are applying for these grants, they will propose projects that address climate change, improve air quality, open new opportunities, and include workforce training to help workers transition to operating and maintaining these new, clean energy fleets.”
Approximately $1.1. billion will be available this year through the FTA’s Low or No emission (Low-No) Grant program that provides funding to purchase or lease U.S.-built low or no emission vehicles that use advanced technologies. Another $372 million will be available this year through the FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program to help transit agencies purchase or rehabilitate buses, vans, and related equipment or build bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion over five years for the Low-No Grant program and $2 billion for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program over the next five years.
“We’re making the largest ever investment in this program for buses and bus facilities, helping to deliver better commutes and cleaner air to American communities,” Buttigieg said.