The grant funding fell far short of the $8.7 billion requested by transit agencies.
“The Federal Transit Administration announced Monday nearly $1.7 billion in grants under the Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission Vehicle programs for transit projects in 46 states and territories.” According to a brief by Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive, the agency received $8.7 billion in applications.
The ‘Low-No’ program has been criticized by Transportation for America for “artificially constraining the conversion to zero-emission vehicles” by requiring that 25 percent of funding go toward low-emission projects. “Transportation for America found that while 88% of grant applications were for zero-emission buses and facilities, more than two-thirds of those applications were rejected, while nearly 100% of applications for projects for diesel hybrid and compressed natural gas buses were approved.”
During a press call, FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said many of the low-emission projects are in rural areas where the infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles is less available.
Agencies awarded in this round include King County Metro in Seattle, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
FULL STORY: $1.7B for cleaner transit buses, bus facilities awarded by FTA
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