Hybrid Buses and Rail Systems receive U.S. Government Funding

Vice President Joe Biden announced this month that 191 new transit projects in 42 states and Puerto Rico will receive more than $600 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Among the projects getting funds,

the City of Santa Rosa, California, will use nearly $1 million to buy two hybrid electric buses;

Florida’s Sarasota County Transportation Authority will spend part of its $4.6 million acquire two 350-foot hybrid buses;

and the Michigan Department of Transportation will spend its $168,000 grant to modify buses with mini-hybrid components.

Since President Obama signed the Recovery Act in February 2009, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded 881 grants totaling $7.5 billion, which means all the formula transit funds provided by the Recovery Act have now been committed to specific transit projects. So far, Recovery Act funds have supported the purchase of nearly 12,000 buses, vans, and rail vehicles; the construction or renovation of more than 850 transit facilities; and the performance of more than $620 million in preventive maintenance, which has helped to save transit service and jobs, while enhancing service reliability. See the White House press release for a complete list of awardees.