ST. PAUL, Minn. – Four Minnesota transit agencies and one city recently received more than $25.8 million in grant awards for public transit systems in greater Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today.
The federal discretionary funds via the current Low- and No-Emission grant opportunities are going to the following cities and agencies:
- The city of Rochester – $7.4 million to build a park-and-ride lot to allow residents and visitors to park outside downtown and take Rochester Public Transit routes to jobs and opportunities. This will help increase transit demand, reduce congestion and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
- Metro Transit – $17.5 million to buy battery-electric buses, chargers and bus equipment to replace aging diesel buses, as well as fund workforce development. The project supports Metro Transit’s goal of reducing emissions while decreasing barriers to employment and growing a local workforce through an existing apprenticeship program.
- The Minnesota Department of Transportation, on behalf of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (Heartland Express) and Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (Prairieland Transit) – $1.5 million to buy propane-fueled buses and supporting fueling equipment. The project will improve service and reliability and lower maintenance costs for these greater Minnesota rural transit providers.
- White Earth Public Transit – $723,171 to buy low-emission buses with electronic farebox systems to replace older vehicles. The new buses will enable the agency to reduce fuel costs while continuing to provide much-needed bus service in rural communities on the reservation in northwest Minnesota.
“These grants will contribute directly to Minnesota’s goal of a multimodal transportation system that maximizes the health of people, the environment, and our economy,” said Mark Nelson, assistant director of MnDOT’s Office of Transit and Active Transportation. “They highlight our state’s commitment to low- and no emission vehicles in public transit and working toward a more environmentally responsible fleet across the state.”
The Minnesota grants are part of 130 awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. The $1.7 billion in funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and includes transit projects in 46 states and territories.
| # # # www.mndot.gov |