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U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced that the Federal Transit Administration awarded $423 million in transit infrastructure grants nationwide to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility for transit riders.
“Public bus systems throughout the country provide millions of Americans access to jobs, healthcare, grocery stores, and other vital services,” Chao said.
The funding supports efforts to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate and construct bus-related facilities.
The $2,971,592 award will allow the Greater Dayton RTA agency to replace eight buses that are 10 years old with more than 500,000 miles on each.
“Several years ago RTA set an ambitious goal to replace our entire bus fleet by 2020, and this award is certainly an important piece in making that goal a reality,” said Bob Ruzinsky, RTA’s deputy CEO.
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Ruzinsky said, “Having a newer bus fleet not only improves our customer experience, but it also improves our community as a whole as the new buses meet more stringent EPA standards.”
FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams said that more people travel by bus than any other form of public transportation.
“This administration is committed to rebuilding our nation’s transportation infrastructure and helping to improve bus service nationwide,” Williams said.
Other Ohio projects selected to receive funding:
• Laketran in Northeast Ohio will receive $4.3 million to purchase battery electric buses and equipment as well as to reconstruct a park and ride facility.
• Western Reserve Transit Authority will receive $600,104 to upgrade its maintenance bays for repairing vehicles and updating the parts storage room.
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