U.S. Department of Transportation unveils new $60-million grant for green transit projects

“President Obama is committed to investing in sustainable transportation systems that improve access to jobs, education and medical care for millions of riders, while bringing cleaner air to our communities and reducing our dependence on oil,” said U.S. Secretary LaHood. “These projects will also help transit agencies operate more efficiently, and save money in the long run.”

While other DoT investments were announced in July, now the Department has selected 27 projects to award the funds, including $3.3 million for the St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission in St. Cloud, Minnesota to renovate its Metro Bus Operations Center so the facility can accommodate a fleet of NGVs and to build a CNG station. 

Other agencies receiving grants to replace old units with new natural gas buses are: Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (AL) with $2.5 million, Riverside Transit Agency (CA) with $2.4 million, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (GA) with $3.9 million, Springfield Mass Transit District (IL) with $3 million, and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (MO) with $1.4 million.

Moreover, the federal grants will fund the purchase of new paratransit NGVs for Sun Metro-City of El Paso (TX), Colorado Department of Transportation (CO) and Greater Hartford Transit District (CT), and the installation of CNG stations for Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NY) and Butler Transit Authority (PA).

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation