federal transit administration awards more than $366 million for bus maintenance and facilities projects nationally

The Road Runner Transit system in Las Cruces is getting exactly $11 million to build a new transit and operations center for its bus fleet.

The money for the project is coming from the Federal Transit Administration and is just one out of more than 107 individual public transit projects slated to receive federal grants.

 Those grants, said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a statement, are specifically designed to “help rebuild and modernize bus systems across the country for greater safety.”

In total, the FTA, through its expansive Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program, has allotted $366 million in grants for projects in all fifty states.

The City of Phoenix is receiving $6.3 million to upgrade its fleet, while Fort Collins, Colorado will get $1.5 million to replace and expand its bus stops.

The FTA grants will also be put to use in Denver and Boulder where the big Regional Transportation District is getting $3.5 million for roof replacement projects at several maintenance facilities.

FTA officials say the agency received pitches this year for 340 individual bus and bus facility projects across the country, totaling more than $2 billion.

By Garry Boulard

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