The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Thursday it was making another $9.9 billion in federal formula funding available to support public transit infrastructure.
Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the funding is designed to help communities maintain and operate trains, buses, and ferries; upgrade stations and tracks, plan and design new transit corridors and provide access for seniors and riders with disabilities.
“When we invest in public transit, we improve daily life for millions of Americans across the country, and make it easier, safer, and more affordable to get around communities of every size,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “The Biden-Harris administration is making the largest investment in public transit in U.S. history, including $9.9 billion announced today, to help communities improve public transit and expand it to reach more people than ever before.”
The partial-year Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding is apportioned via a table that specifies how much states, urbanized areas and Tribal governments receive based on statutory formulas. The funding, officials said, reflects formula funding available between October 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024 at FY 2023 levels while the federal government continues to operate under a Continuing Resolution.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides significant increases to transit funds across the country, from counties with just one van providing rides to systems operating hundreds of trains, buses, and ferries in the largest cities in America,” FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said. “Communities depend on this funding to start new projects, fix old infrastructure, and bring more fast, safe, convenient service.”
The funds are distributed to state Departments of Transportation, Tribal nations and urbanized areas for use in transit systems. The online apportionment tables allow transit agencies and grant recipient to view the amounts for programs to better plan and manage long term for new projects, as well as to plan for repair backlogs.