RTS receives its largest grant ever from Federal Transit Administration
The City of Gainesville Department of Transportation received a $26.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), according to a press release.
Announced this week, it is the largest single federal grant ever awarded to Regional Transit System (RTS), the local public bus service operated by the city.
Nearly $22 million of the grant will used to by RTS to buy full-sized hybrid electric buses. The remaining funding, just shy of $4.5 million, will be used to build the city’s first solar-generating facility at the RTS administration complex. The federal award is specifically earmarked for modernizing public transportation systems and cannot be reallocated toward operating or administrative costs, according to the press release.
“Thanks to this historic investment in sustainable public transportation for our community by the Biden Administration, we’ll have one of the newest – and most fuel-efficient – transit fleets in the entire state,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward in the press release. “This funding will truly help us better serve our neighbors who rely on RTS for safe, efficient and reliable transportation every single day.”
RTS gets grant: Gainesville awarded $10.6M grant for new RTS buses, eastside transfer station
Ward traveled to Washington, D.C. in February to strengthen relationships with FTA officials and advocate for continued federal support, according to the press release.
“This significant investment in clean energy technologies underscores our commitment to building a more sustainable future for our community,” said Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry in the press release. “Most importantly, the upgrades will provide eco-friendly transportation for all neighbors, aligning with our vision of sustainability and mobility for all.”
New buses may begin to arrive in 2026, with the RTS team prioritizing the replacement of existing diesel buses based on mileage and age. The new buses will add to the five hybrid-diesel buses and four battery-electric buses currently part of the RTS fleet, according to the press release.
Meanwhile, once the planning and permitting processes for the on-site solar power facility are complete, construction will begin at the RTS complex, likely within a few years. The new facility will harness clean, renewable power, offsetting a significant portion of the complex’s annual electricity consumption. In addition, solar panel power generation will help charge the electric bus fleet, according to the press release.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly $5 billion has been awarded in the past 3 years to modernize public transportation in America, including the approximately $1.5 billion in funding announced this week, according to the press release.
“Today, another 117 communities across 47 states are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to the press release. “The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies replace old buses running on dirtier, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses,
manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go,” he said.
Building a sustainable community and mobility for all neighbors are key principles of the city’s strategic plan, according to the press release.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Federal agency awards $26.4 million to RTS
