Traffic Update on the Road to Public Transit Funding

Last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law paved the way for historic investments in public transit for communities of all sizes across the country.

We know those investments don’t take effect immediately as the road to public transit funding can often be a long and winding one. However, there have been some major updates (and wins!) in public transit funding as implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) continues, and Voices for Public Transit is excited to celebrate!

Clean Transit Buses on Track to Nearly Double Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced $1.66 billion in federal grants for local public transit agencies, territories, and states nationwide through two programs—the Buses and Bus Facilities Program and the Low- and No-Emission Vehicle Program.

These investments will have a transformational impact on local communities, the environment, and the American economy.

		Aimed at improving and modernizing bus fleets and facilities, this funding will support 150 projects in 48 states and territories nationwide.
		These investments will help public transit agencies nationwide purchase more than 1,800 new buses built and manufactured by American workers, improving mobility while strengthening the economy.
		More than 1,100 of those new buses will use zero-emission technology, thanks to the five-year, $5.5 billion investment in the Low- and No-Emission Program made by the IIJA.
		With just over 1,300 zero-emission buses operating nationwide currently, these grants will nearly double America’s fleet of no-emission buses in the first year of the IIJA’s implementation alone.
		Nationwide, 74 of the zero-emission bus projects also include over $43 million in funding for workforce development to help train public transit workers to operate and maintain buses powered with new clean energy technologies.

This first round of IIJA funding for our nation’s buses, bus facilities, and zero- or low-emissions vehicles will help communities of all sizes continue to improve transit and mobility options while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. That benefits everyone, whether or not they use public transit.

 Your Support Plays a Key Role

The historic level of support for these two programs is a huge victory for public transit and public transportation advocates nationwide.

None of this would have been possible without the support, participation, and engagement of Voices for Public Transit members over the past 18 months. We cannot express how grateful we are for all your hard work and advocacy—but the impact of your efforts on local communities is thanks enough.

Moving forward, Voices for Public Transit members will continue to play a major role in determining how the investments from the IIJA take shape at the federal, state, and local level. By continuing to advocate for increased public transit funding, we can help maximize the positive impact of these investments—and public transportation—in communities nationwide.