BRYAN, Brazos County — The Brazos Transit District has revealed in a press release that they have been awarded a $9.65 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as a part of a $1.7 billion federal infrastructure law aimed to invest in low and zero emission vehicles around the nation.
As a part of the grant, over 1,700 buses will be manufactured and built with American parts and labor from start to finish in an effort to drastically increase the number of zero-emission transit buses on the road.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Buses and Bus Facilities/Low-No Grant,” said John McBeth, President/CEO of BTD in the release. “This grant will enable us to add cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly vehicles to our fleet, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and the well-being of our community. We are excited to improve rider experience by providing cleaner and greener transit options for our passengers while contributing to the overall reduction of carbon emissions.”
According to the FTA, the BTD will use the funding to "buy electric buses, vans and trolleys to replace older diesel-powered vehicles, charging equipment and develop a workforce training program with Texas A&M University. This project will ensure continued service reliability, maintain a state of good repair and, by improving air quality, advance environmental justice for the 21 counties the transit agency serves."
The list of organizations and cities in Texas that received funding include:
- Brazos Transit District
- City of Beaumont
- City of Brownsville
- Conroe Connection Transit
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
- Port Arthur Transit/City of Port Arthur
- San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority
- Texas Department of Transportation on behalf of 29 rural transportation districts
- The City of Waco (dba Waco Transit System, Inc)
“We are delighted to receive this grant and for the opportunity to add to the three battery electric buses we currently have in service," said Peter Lange, associate vice president for Transportation Services in the release. "We are grateful to BTD for their commitment and dedication throughout this process and to our elected officials for their efforts in making this possible."
Click here to view the full list of organizations around the country that were awarded funding.
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