DOT designates $776 million in bus grants

The U.S. Transportation Department Monday announced $776 million in new discretionary grants to overhaul bus services in 45 states and the District of Columbia, including more use of hybrid vehicles and other green initiatives.
 
The 152 grants include $22 million to replace New Jersey transit buses with those that run on compressed natural gas, $47.8 million to replace two bus maintenance facilities in Los Angeles in part to accommodate natural gas-powered buses and $39 million to build a new maintenance and operations facility in Worcester, Mass., that emphasizes green technology and design.
 

There are plenty of small projects receiving grants as well, including $1 million for hybrid buses in Williamsport, Penn., and $590,000 to purchase solar powered exterior lighting and make other changes to a downtown transfer center in Missoula, Mont.

“Geographic distribution was an important factor in the distribution of money,” said Peter Rogoff, head of the Federal Transportation Administration.
 
Rogoff announced the availability of grants back in April and said the agency received more than $4.2 billion in applications from 400 agencies.
 
Other projects include:
 
$2.9 million for the city of Phoenix, Ariz., to replace old buses with diesel-electric hybrids;
 
$4.1 million for the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation to make environmental and energy efficiency updates to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting.
 
$1.7 million to Maryland’s Transportation Department to replace old bus wash systems with those that can also accommodate hybrid buses, along with a new system to recycle water used in the bus wash.

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