Detroit Regional Chamber > Chamber > Michigan Transit Agencies Awarded $23.4M to Adopt Zero-emission Technology, Expand Services

Michigan Transit Agencies Awarded $23.4M to Adopt Zero-emission Technology, Expand Services

August 17, 2022

Crain’s Detroit
Minnah Arshad
Aug. 16, 2022

Transit agencies in Michigan are receiving $23.4 million in federal grants to upgrade infrastructure and reduce their carbon footprints.

In its first grant selections under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration is awarding $1.66 billion to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities across the nation.

The grants in Michigan will fund about 24 buses, along with other projects such as charging stations and administrative software, FTA said in a news release.

The Michigan Department of Transportation will receive $12 million to assist transit agencies and nonprofits in replacing and adding vehicles, specifically to expand service in rural areas, FTA stated. The grant will also go toward converting diesel buses to propane, installing electric charging infrastructure and buying online scheduling and ticketing software. MDOT said Tuesday that it is still determining which organizations it will assist.

The Detroit Department of Transportation is receiving $6.9 million to acquire electric buses and install charging infrastructure. This is part of Michigan’s plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, FTA stated.

“Greenhouse gases and their effect on the environment disproportionately impact the historically disadvantaged communities that DDOT serves,” FTA said on its website.

Last week, DDOT added 28 new clean diesel buses as part of its effort to convert its 300-bus fleet to newer model, cleaner fuel coaches, which is to be completed early next year.

The Flint-based Mass Transportation Authority is getting $4.33 million to buy hydrogen fuel cell buses and upgrade its hydrogen refueling station. The zero-emission buses will replace old hybrid vehicles, FTA stated.

The city of Midland’s Dial-A-Ride service will get $167,257 to buy electric vans to replace older, gas-powered buses.

Nationwide, the FTA grants will fund more than 1,100 vehicles that use zero-emission technology and will almost double the number of no-emission transit buses, FTA said in its release. Also, 5 percent of the low- and zero-emission funding will be used to train transit workers on how to maintain and operate clean bus technology.

“With today’s awards, we’re helping communities across America — in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike — purchase more than 1,800 new buses, and most of them are zero-emission,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the release. “… this announcement means more good jobs for people across the country, cleaner air in our communities, and more affordable and reliable options to help people get to where they need to go.”

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