The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) this week announced a total of $187 million in federal funding will be allocated to four bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure projects in California, Utah, and Washington State.
Funding is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Small Starts Program. The four BRT projects receiving allocations are nearing completion of the statutory and regulatory requirements in order to receive a grant agreement. The projects must meet these additional requirements before a grant can be awarded.
BRT is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast and efficient service that may include dedicated lanes, busways, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms, and enhanced stations, FTA says. Because BRT contains features similar to a light rail or subway system, it is often considered more reliable, convenient, and faster than regular bus services. With the right combination of features, BRT systems can help passengers avoid the delays that can slow regular bus services, like being stuck in traffic and queuing to pay on board.
“The local communities will greatly benefit from improved access and mobility to transit service, helping people reach vaccination sites, jobs, schools, and other important destinations,” FTA Acting Administrator Nuria Fernandez said in a statement.
The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority in California will receive an $86.75 million allocation for the West Valley Connector BRT project. The 19-mile zero-emission BRT line will connect Pomona to Rancho Cucamonga and will operate as part of Omnitrans’ sbX BRT service.
The Utah Transit Authority will receive a $3.2 million allocation for the Ogden/Weber State University BRT Project. The 5.3-mile BRT will run electric buses from the Ogden FrontRunner Station, through downtown, along dedicated bus lanes in the center of the road on Harrison Boulevard and through the Weber State University campus, and to McKay-Dee Hospital.
Community Transit in Everett, Washington will receive a $37 million allocation for the Swift Orange Line BRT project, an 11.3-mile BRT corridor with 13 stations between Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood and the McCollum Park and Ride in Mill Creek.
The Seattle Department of Transportation in Washington will receive a $59.9 million allocation for the Madison Street BRT project, a 2.3-mile east-west BRT line operating diesel-electric buses along Madison Street spanning from downtown Seattle in the west to the Madison Valley neighborhood in the east.
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SOURCE: Federal Transit Administration