The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded nearly $1.7 billion to 130 projects in 46 states and territories that will modernize bus facilities and purchase new vehicles that produce less or no emissions. More than $10 million was awarded to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority right here in Missouri.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority received a $10,388,000 grant to upgrade a 45-year-old bus facility with electrical infrastructure upgrades, solar panels and updates to fire and life safety detection systems. The project will improve safety, state of good repair and ensure a continuity of service as KCATA transitions to a fully battery-electric fleet.
The grants are provided through two federal programs: The Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. This is the second round of grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provides $5.5 billion for the Low-No Program and $2 billion for the Buses and Bus Facilities program over a five-year period. The first round awarded $1.66 billion to 48 states and territories through the two programs.
FTA reports the first round of the Buses and Bus Facilities and Low-No Grants under the IIJA put approximately 1,800 buses on the road, with more than 1,100 of those using zero-emissions technology. Nearly half of the 1,700 buses this round of funding covers will include zero-emissions vehicles, which more than doubles the number of zero-emission transit buses in the U.S.