U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced the recommendation of $2.5 billion to advance the construction or completion of 25 rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), and streetcar projects in 12 states.
These projects, competitively funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, will create hundreds of construction and operations-related jobs and help communities expand transportation options that improve access and mobility for residents, FTA says.
"Across the country, communities are seeking to expand public transit as a way to create economic opportunity, improve safety, advance equity, reduce congestion and pollution, and lower the cost of living for their residents," Secretary Buttigieg said in a statement. "These capital projects will improve life in 25 communities and are the start of what we hope will be a once-in-a-generation investment to modernize and expand public transit across the country."
FTA's FY 2022 Annual Report on Funding Recommendations includes $1.56 billion for 17 CIG projects with existing grant agreements, and $461.1 million for eight new CIG projects estimated to be ready for grants in FY 2022. An additional $427.2 million is recommended for other CIG and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program projects that may become ready for funding during FY 2022.
The CIG Program is the federal government's primary grant program for supporting transit capital projects that are locally planned, implemented, and operated. It provides funding for investments such as new and expanded heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, bus rapid transit, and ferries, as well as corridor-based BRT investments that emulate the features of rail.
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SOURCE: Federal Transit Administration
