The Texas Department of Transportation will receive $7 million in grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program to provide funds to rural transit providers throughout the state to purchase new buses. The program helps rural transit agencies purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.
“We are grateful to our federal partners for these resources that will help transport rural Texans to work, medical appointments and other necessary destinations,” said Marc Williams, TxDOT deputy executive director. “Providing newer buses to our rural transit providers means providing more efficient travel for Texans in need.”
When combined with other available funding, the grant will replace up to 275 of over 1,600 fleet used to provide rural area services, updating overall fleet condition through 2019. The vast majority of Texas rural transit districts will receive funding based on replacement needs.
The public transportation funds administered by TxDOT support transit programs serving 41 percent of the state’s population and cover more than 96 percent of the state’s land area. Residents of these areas use these transit services to get to work, school, shopping and medical appointments.
