U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Friday that he recommends spending $2.5 billion in FY 2022 to construct or complete 25 rail, bus rapid transit, and streetcar projects in 12 states.
The projects, funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, would create hundreds of jobs and help communities expand their transportation options for residents.
“Across the country, communities are seeking to expand public transit as a way to create economic opportunity, improve safety, advance equity, reduce congestion and pollution, and lower the cost of living for their residents,” Buttigieg said. “These capital projects will improve life in 25 communities and are the start of what we hope will be a once-in-a-generation investment to modernize and expand public transit across the country.”
The FTA’s FY 2022 Annual Report on Funding Recommendations includes $1.56 billion for 17 existing CIG projects and another $461.1 million for eight new CIG projects expected to be ready for grants in 2022. The department recommended an additional $427.2 million for other CIG and Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program projects that may become ready for funding in 2022.
“FTA is proud to work with communities across the country to bring more environmentally friendly public transportation options to residents,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “These investments support President Biden’s commitment to combat climate change while also improving safety, racial equity, and quality of life for thousands of Americans whose lives will be touched by these projects.”
The funding includes projects in Phoenix, Arizona to extend the Valley Metro’s light rail system, and in Madison, Wisconsin to create the Madison East-West Bus Rapid Transit project, as well as two bus rapid transit projects in Minnesota – the METRO Gold Line and the Rochester Rapid Transit BRT project, among others.