Responding to an application by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has granted the state agency $16.2 million for vehicle replacement.
The money will benefit 10 transit agencies in Tennessee, on behalf of whom TDOT applied. In all, it will result in 25 buses and 279 demand response vehicles, with 25 percent of total project cost footed by TDOT, via revenues generated by the IMPROVE Act. Benefiting agencies will provide another 10 percent of the cost, while the remaining 65 percent will be covered by the federal funds.
“These transit agencies provide services in 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, and they play a vital role in providing transportation to jobs, schools, and medical appointments,” TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright said. “I’m proud TDOT could partner with these entities to successfully compete for these funds.”
TDOT reports that 54 percent of vehicles used by the state’s transit agencies are currently working past their life expectancy. The agency expects this new replacement effort to cut that figure down to 31 percent and allow Tennessee transit agencies to focus more on preventative maintenance instead of short term repairs to keep aging machines moving.
The federal award also marked Tennessee as one of the highest funded. It was one of the eight highest funded awards among 94 recipients.