Contact: Michael Frezell, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-281-6519 Agency: Transportation

Fast facts: - FTA announced a $13.6 million grant to MDOT to modernize rural and small urban public transit bus fleets and facilities. - $6.2 million will go to 13 public transit agencies to replace aging vehicles and expand their fleets. - $7.4 million will go to four transit agencies to replace, expand, or remodel rural transit bus facilities.

LANSING, Mich. - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced on March 14 the award of $13.6 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to modernize rural and small urban public transit bus fleets and facilities. Under the FTA Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program, the funding comes from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that boosts bus transit funding by $10 billion over the next five years to modernize America's transit bus fleet.

"Michigan continues to the lead the way with clean, efficient public transportation," State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said. "Local public transit systems provide vital transportation to Michigan's diverse populations, taking them to work, medical appointments, and grocery shopping. Riders throughout the state can look forward to modern buses that will enhance services and improve air quality."

One grant will provide $6.2 million to 13 public transit agencies to replace aging vehicles and expand their fleets, which will result in enhanced safety, improve service reliability, and provide cleaner air for the environment as some of the vehicles will be zero-emission electric buses. Benzie Transportation Authority and Thumb Area Transit will expand their fleet with a total of six state-of-the-art electric buses. A total of 41 replacement vehicles will go to various rural and small urban transit agencies across the state. 

A second grant will provide $7.4 million to replace, expand, or remodel rural transit bus facilities for four agencies. The project will allow the Alma Dial-A-Ride, the Benzie Transportation Authority, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, and the Thunder Bay Transportation Authority to enhance transit safety and access and improve service reliability.

This announcement comes after a $6 million grant in 2020 for advanced technology, zero emissions buses for six transit agencies. In February, the State of Michigan issued a request for proposal for battery-electric, small, cutaway-style buses that will be used by several states to procure zero-emission buses to replace older model diesel and gas vehicles. MDOT is pleased to assist not only Michigan transit agencies, who want to make the switch to zero-emission vehicles, but to assist transit agencies across the country.