US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Thursday that 46 innovative transit projects will share $112 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Thursday that 46 innovative transit projects will share $112 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Projects were selected from 266 applications through a competitive process – the winners were chosen for their potential to “help cut the nation’s dependence on oil and create a marketplace for 21st century ‘green’ jobs.”
About half of the money went for hybrid or battery-powered buses, divided among 23 projects around the country. Considering the relatively small amounts going to each project, this initiative might best be described as a set of pilot or experimental projects to see what works, rather than any major push to replace dinosaur-burning buses with EVs. The largest single award was $6.7 million for Long Beach Transit, to replace 10 older buses with battery-electric models.
“These grants will put thousands of Americans back to work building sustainable, energy-efficient transit vehicles and facilities across the country,” said Secretary LaHood. “The Obama Administration is committed to investing in the cutting-edge transportation projects that will keep our economy moving forward.”
Image:Department of Transportation