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On Oct. 4, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, joined in a conference call by Peter M. Rogoff, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, announced a combined $776 million for urban and rural transit providers in 45 states and the District of Columbia to help bring buses, bus facilities, and related equipment into a state of good repair. Money from FTA’s new State of Good Repair discretionary grant program will go to 152 projects.

“Safety is our highest priority, and it goes hand-in-hand with making sure our transit systems are in the best working condition possible,” said LaHood. “The millions of people who depend on transit each day to get to work, to school, or to the doctor expect a safe and comfortable ride.”

In June 2010, the FTA released The National State of Good Repair Assessment Study, which estimated that the cost of bringing the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into a state of good repair is close to $78 billion. The report drew on data from 43 of the nation’s rail and bus operators in both rural and urban areas.

The program is designed to help transit providers deliver safer, more reliable rides, operate more efficiently, and lower fuel costs. The 152 projects include replacing aging buses with fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, constructing new bus shelters and maintenance facilities, installing updated fareboxes, and installing fleet tracking systems.

“America's transit users want bus service that is safe, reliable, comfortable, and clean," Rogoff noted. “These funds will go a long way in helping more than 100 urban and rural transit agencies deliver the high-quality bus service that Americans deserve.”

Rogoff was in San Antonio, TX, at the time of the announcement, serving as keynote speaker at the 2010 APTA Annual Meeting.

The list of selected projects can be found here.

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