Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $1.7 Billion to Help Put Better, Cleaner Buses on the Roads in Communities Across the Country
June 26, 2023
Today - June 26, 2023 - the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 130 awards totaling nearly $1.7 billion from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects in 46 states and territories. This funding invests in more than 1,700 American-built buses that will be manufactured with American parts and labor. Nearly half of these buses will be zero-emission models - bringing the total number of zero-emission transit buses funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over two years to more than 1,800 – and more than doubling the number of zero-emission transit buses on America’s roadways. Many of the grant recipients have pledged to buy standardized buses and vans and avoid customization, which will result in faster delivery and lower costs.
In addition to investing in the future of transit - the awards announced today also invest in America's workers. Twenty-two of the funded projects will operate with project labor agreements to ensure their efficient and timely completion and 34 projects have committed to the gold standard model of registered apprenticeship with supportive services such as childcare for employees. In addition - the zero-emission bus grants include millions of dollars in funding for workforce programs that will train today's internal combustion mechanics to become tomorrow's electric motor technicians and the projects will include millions of dollars in funding for workforce programs that help transition today's diesel mechanics to tomorrow's electric motor technicians. The awards announced today are part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda which is rebuilding our nation's infrastructure and creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out.
SEPTA received $80,000,000 in grant funding to make improvements at six bus maintenance facilities - which house 67% of our fleet - to support its transition to zero-emission vehicles. The money will be used to upgrade power systems, modernize electrical infrastructure, and install safety systems to ensure SEPTA is prepared as it transitions to a zero emission fleet by 2040.
FTA's Low-No program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles including buses and vans; make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles; and purchase supporting equipment like chargers for battery electric vehicles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined. For FY 2023, approximately $1.22 billion was available for grants under this program.
Federal support for bus projects over the last several years has been instrumental in moving people and helping communities advance toward their climate goals.
