The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently awarded eight public transportation providers and state Departments of Transportation in six states and one U.S. territory nearly $110 million in Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program funding.
The program helps agencies repair damaged equipment and facilities and recover the costs of evacuation and rescue operations from hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes that occurred in 2017 and between 2020 and 2022. Agencies also can use funding to reestablish, expand, or relocate service before, during or after an emergency.
“Americans cannot stop their lives because a disaster damages their transit systems,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said. “We know it is critical to fund recovery efforts for these systems, so they can keep taking Americans to work, school, doctors’ appointments, and other important destinations.”
Awards include:
The Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District in Louisiana was awarded $18.6 million to rehabilitate the Pointe à la Hache Ferry Crossing that was damaged by several major storms.
The New Jersey Transit Corp. was awarded $75 million to repair and relocate a facility damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
The Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority was awarded nearly $13.2 million to rehabilitate Tren Urbano rail system facilities and systems damaged by hurricanes in 2017.