The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration Monday announced $30.5 billion in federal funding is now available to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they continue to respond to COVID-19.
“Transportation workers are serving on the front lines of this pandemic: delivering the vaccine, getting people to essential jobs, and providing goods and services to people who need them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The critical American Rescue Plan funding we are announcing today will help prevent service cuts, protect employees from layoffs, keep riders and workers safe, and strengthen our economy.”
The American Rescue Plan Act includes $30.5 billion for public transportation, including $26.6 billion to be allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, tribal governments, and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities, and $2.2 billion to FTA grant recipients in communities that demonstrate additional pandemic-associated needs.
Funds will be made available at 100% federal share and primarily directed to operations and payroll. An additional $1.7 billion is provided for projects in the Capital Investment Grants Program and another $25 million for competitive planning grants.
Much of MTC’s COVID-era work has focused on preserving — and ultimately improving — the Bay Area’s transit network. This work began last year. In May 2020, MTC created the 32-member Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force to guide the future of the Bay Area’s public transportation network.
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