3 Transit Systems to Get Federal Station Improvement Grants

Public transit systems in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are among the recipients of grants from the Federal Transit Administration to be used to modernize stations and improve their accessibility.

The agencies are sharing in $686 million being awarded to 15 projects. The grant funding is coming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Greater Cleveland Transit Authority will receive $8 million to rebuild its East 79^th Street rapid station to make it more accessible.

The 1920s era station will receive new ramps, concrete platforms, rail crossings, warning panels, canopy-covered concrete stairs, upgraded emergency call boxes, and slip-resistant walking surfaces.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit will receive $24.4 million to make the Bethel Village, Westfield, St. Anne’s, and Shiras stations on the Red Line ADA accessible. Station improvements will include installing a high platform for level boarding, shelters on the boarding platform, ramps, accessible signage and auditory support.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive $56 million to make its 11th Street subway station on the Market-Frankford Subway Line and the Chinatown, Erie, Fairmount Upper Level, Fairmount Lower Level and Snyder stations on the Broad Street Subway Line accessible.

The stations were built in the early 20^th century. Work will include installing elevators, general station upgrades, ramps, and making path of travel improvements.

OLI to Award Transit Safety Grants

Operation Lifesaver is accepting applications for its 2022 Rail Transit Safety Education Grants.

The railroad safety group plans to award $200,000 to transit agencies and governments that provide transit service to conduct transit-rail safety education and public awareness initiatives.

In a news release OLI officials said no recipient may receive more than $20,000. The grants will require non-federal match funding of at least 25 percent.

Grants will be awarded for projects that focus on safety education or public awareness initiatives in communities with operating or planned commuter-rail, light-rail, subway and streetcar systems.

Applications are due Oct. 17 and awards will be announced on Dec. 1.

Transit Agencies Receive TOD Grants

Two Ohio public transit agencies are being awarded grants through a Federal Transit Administration program for new services or to restore services suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agency said it is awarding $25 million in grants made available by the American Rescue Plan Act.

In Ohio, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will receive $210,000 to study and develop an operations plan for new service with bus stop planning, coordination of core service in corridors to facilitate safer transfers between routes.

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (GoMetro) will receive $780,100 to plan for and develop new Bus Rapid Transit corridors, which will improve service and reliability, in particular for low-income riders and those living in disadvantaged communities.

Three Pennsylvania public transit agencies also will receive funding.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County will receive $780,100 to perform a bus network study which will evaluate the existing network to determine how to most effectively restore service for low-income and other disadvantaged populations as well as account for new trends in mobility following COVID-19.

The Centre Area Transportation Authority based in State College will receive $205,000 to conduct a study on current operations of existing services and make recommended changes that will increase ridership and overall transit experience for its riders.

The study is intended to determine how CATA can fully integrate its transportation services in order to provide enhanced mobility to seniors, low-income, and working families through efficiencies and enhanced routing.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, will receive $500,000 to identify, study, and develop transportation improvements for the North Philadelphia West neighborhood between 18th and 33rd Street, and Lehigh and Girard Avenue, an area of roughly two square miles. This area is served by nine bus routes, with service concentrated on seven primary transit corridors.

In Louisville, Kentucky, the Transit Authority of River City will receive $780,100 to conduct a system wide analysis of its post-pandemic transit needs and to identify how resources can be better allocated to serve its riders, especially low income and disadvantaged communities. In Flint, Michigan, the Mass Transportation Authority will receive $260,000 to conduct a route planning restoration study of its 14 fixed, primary routes with the goal of increasing ridership, improving service delivery, and better understanding the changing needs in the post COVID-19 community.

NEO Transit Agencies Get FTA Grants

Local public transit officials have released information as to how much money they are receiving in Federal Transit Administration grants and for what purposes the funding will be used.

FTA recently announced the awarding of $32,639,029 to improve bus service at five Ohio transit agencies.

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority plans to use its $4 million to rehabilitate its Hayden bus maintenance facility.

Laketran in Lake County will use its $14,681,981 to expand a bus garage and add an operations and maintenance facility.

Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority will get $1,514,888 to replace older buses.

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority in Cincinnati will receive $10,134,960 to replace older buses while the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will get $2,307,200 to upgrade its maintenance facility and replace older paratransit vehicles.

The funding is coming from the Infrastructure and Jobs Acts approved by Congress last year.

Pittsburgh Agency to get TOD Grant

The Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh was one of 20 recipients of Federal Transit Administration pilot program grants in its Transit Oriented Development Planning program.

The agency will receive $560,500 to plan for TOD on a 9.1 mile dedicated bus rapid transit corridor in the Upper Mon Valley.

FTA said in a news release that it will award $11.03 million in grants that support local planning and strategies to increase transit access and encourage ridership through mixed-use and mixed-income development near public transportation projects.

Ten of the projects involve rail public transit. No Ohio projects were selected in this round of funding.

FTA Has Service Restoration Grant Money

The Federal Transit Administration said it has $25 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan to help public transportation agencies resume service that was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Route Planning Restoration Project will help fund restoration of public transit routes as well as to examine ridership following the  pandemic, reduce travel times and make adjustments to increase the quality or frequency of transit service for low-income riders and those in disadvantaged neighborhoods or communities who may need increased service to get to jobs, shopping and health care.

Transit agencies have until Nov. 15 to apply for funds from the program.

FTA said in a news release that projects will be selected in part on whether they will increase racial equity and advance environmental justice.

Applications will also be reviewed for their effect on climate change and if they provide service that connects those in underserved communities, while helping cut down on car and other trips that increase emissions, particularly in those communities, which are often the most impacted by airborne pollution.

The maximum award amount for any prospective applicant may be up to $1 million and a local match is not required.

FTA Has $2.2B in Pandemic Grant Funding Available

The Federal Transit Administration said this week it will take applications for $2.2 billion in competitive grant funding for transit systems demonstrating additional pandemic-associated needs. 

The grants were allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

FTA officials said additional assistance funding can be awarded to transit systems that demonstrate additional assistance is needed to cover operating expenses related to maintaining day-to-day operations, cleaning and sanitization, combating the spread of pathogens and maintaining critical staffing levels.

Applications for the funding must be submitted by Nov. 8.

APTA Has Grants to Bolster Public Transit

The American Public Transportation Association said it will award grants of $5,000 to $10,000 to transit coalitions to protect or expand public transportation, including rail.

In a news release, APTA said the grants will be seek to emphasize quick solutions to improve ridership, incorporate outreach to communities of color and/or promote efforts to activate college student as transit advocates.

APTA said projects with a “focused advocacy component” may be considered for additional funding.

A local public transportation coalition is defined as a group of people seeking to promote transit that has the support of local APTA members and becomes a member of the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates before receiving a grant.

Grant applications will be accepted until Aug. 21 and awards will be announced Sept. 16.

FTA Has Funding to Expedite Capital Projects

The Federal Transit Administration said it will make available $225 million in grant funding to be used to expedite completion of new transit capital projects.

The funding is being made available under a pilot program authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.

Eligible capital projects must use public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a federal cost share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost.

Currently, $100 million of the grant funding is available for allocation. Up to eight projects can be awarded funding.

FTA Grant Program Promotes Service Innovation

The Federal Transit Administration is providing $11 million in challenge grants that are to be used to help transit agencies explore new service models.

In a news release, FTA said the Accelerating Innovative Mobility initiative seeks to encourage innovation by promoting new approaches to improving transit system design, service and financing.

The AIM grants will be detailed in an upcoming FTA notice of funding opportunity, but the agency will seek to create a national network of transit agencies to test and share project results, and use FTA technical assistance centers to promote promising innovations.

FTA officials said that the federal fiscal year 2020 competitive grant programs will have $615 million and highlight innovation as part of their selection criteria.