WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today announced a total of $250 million in federal funding allocations to help communities across the country protect the jobs of workers involved in constructing transit projects, ensuring the continued advancement of those critical pieces of infrastructure, despite the impacts of COVID-19. Twenty-two transit projects in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program will receive these funds. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. The transit infrastructure projects are located in 13 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington State and Wisconsin.

“Public transit opens new opportunities for people, and delivers environmental and economic benefits to communities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are delighted to provide support for these projects, which will help communities recover from the pandemic and bring public transit to more people in the months and years to come.”

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 specified that $250 million could be distributed to Small Starts projects in the CIG program that previously received a CIG funding allocation from the FTA or that are in the Project Development phase of the CIG program. These projects represent several modes, including bus rapid transit, streetcar, and light rail. Projects in the Project Development phase are nearing completion of the requirements in law for a construction grant award.

The Act further specified that the funding does not count toward statutory Federal or CIG funding limitations, but rather is meant to assist project sponsors with their local match.

“This funding will help numerous communities across the country continue to protect jobs and advance important transit projects that otherwise might have been canceled or delayed due to the pandemic,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “These federal funding allocations are so important for transit agencies struggling in the wake of COVID-19.”

The CIG Program provides funding for major transit infrastructure capital investments nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.

Small Starts Projects Under Construction Receiving American Rescue Plan Allocations (Florida Locations Only)

Jacksonville, FL: Southwest Bus Rapid Transit Project

The Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) will receive a $2.4 million allocation of American Rescue Plan funding for the First Coast Flyer Southwest Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, a 12.9-mile BRT line from the Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville, via Florida State College-Jacksonville (Kent Campus), to the Orange Park Mall in Clay County.

Miami, FL: South Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project

The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) will receive a $29.5 million allocation of American Rescue Plan funding for the South Corridor Rapid Transit project, a 20-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that will operate along the existing South Dade busway from the Dadeland South Metrorail Station to SW 344th Street in Florida City.

St. Petersburg, FL: Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will receive a $3.3 million allocation of American Rescue Plan funding for the Central Avenue “SunRunner” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, a 10.3-mile BRT line that will operate from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach via the Central Avenue corridor.

 

To learn more, visit: https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/news/us-transportation-secretary-buttigieg-announces-250-million-american-rescue-plan-funding