On Feb. 4, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced the availability of $2 billion in grants through FTA to help protect, repair, reconstruct, and replace public transit equipment and facilities that suffered severe damage last year from Hurricane Sandy. These funds are the first installment of $10.9 billion appropriated to FTA through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, which President Obama signed into law Jan. 29.

“The $2 billion we’re making available now will reimburse transit agencies for extraordinary expenses incurred to protect workers and equipment before and after the hurricane hit, and support urgently needed repairs to seriously damaged transit systems and facilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and elsewhere,” LaHood said.

“The department has stepped up to address the worst transit disaster in U.S. history, which directly affected well over one-third of the nation’s transit,” said FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff. “We are pledged to distribute the emergency relief funding responsibly and as quickly as possible to ensure that transit riders have the reliable service they need and deserve—and lay a strong foundation to mitigate the impact of such disasters in the future.”

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy said: “I commend the FTA for beginning so quickly the process of repairing damage done to public transit systems in the New York/New Jersey region. This is an example of the excellent work performed by FTA employees.”

The legislation appropriated a total of $10.9 billion to FTA’s new Emergency Relief Program, which was established under MAP-21. The funds will be awarded through the program on a rolling basis in the form of grants to public transit agencies, states, local governments, and other affected organizations.

Details on the program, including how to apply for the funds, are available from FTA. The Federal Register notice on the grants is here.