The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Friday it had awarded $891 million in funding to 12 transit infrastructure projects across the country.
The projects are all part of the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program and funding will be used to further a project for construction grants programs. The CIG Program provides funding for major transit infrastructure investments across the country. These projects have to go through multi-year-, multi-step processes to qualify for funds.
“This $891 million in federal funding for our country’s public transit system will facilitate the ability of millions of Americans to access jobs and critical services,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The new projects will bring to 35 the total of CIG projects underway throughout the nation, totaling approximately $8.5 billion in funding commitments.
“Supporting rail and bus rapid transit projects across the nation will help communities improve transit service as they address the impacts of COVID-19 and recover from this public health emergency,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.
The projects include new starts on projects such as an additional $100 million in FY 2020 funds for a 2.6-mile extension of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s heavy rail system to the Westwood/Veterans Hospital area, and $100 million for a 7.8-mile project in Lake County, Ind., for an extension of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s South Shore Line commuter rail services between Dyer and Hammond, Ind.
Other smaller projects include $21.8 million in funding to complete a 10.3omile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority from downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., to St. Pete Beach; $60.9 million for an 8.5-mile BRT in the Capital District Transportation Authority in Albany, N.Y., from the State University of New York to the Harriman State Office Complex to the Crossgates Mall; and $99.9 million for a 7.8-mile extension of the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon’s MAX Red Line between Beaverton Transit Center to Downtown Hillsboro, Ore.