Biden and Buttigieg approve $1.7B for electric buses.

The United States Department of Transportation Awards $1.7 Billion in Grants for Zero- and Low-Emission Buses

The United States Department of Transportation has recently announced the distribution of nearly $1.7 billion in grants for zero- and low-emission buses across 46 states and territories. This funding is expected to support approximately 1,700 buses for transit agencies, state, and local governments, with a focus on U.S.-built vehicles. Additionally, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) states that almost half of these buses will be “zero-emission models.”

In a press release, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed the significance of this investment, stating, “Every day, over 60,000 buses in communities of all sizes take millions of Americans to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go. Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”

This grant funding is part of the Biden administration’s infrastructure measure, which has already allocated $3.3 billion towards buses and related infrastructure. The Department of Transportation emphasizes the public health benefits of transitioning fleets from diesel to low- or no-emission buses, including improved air quality and reduced noise pollution.

Notable Grant Recipients

• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: The largest grant of $104 million will support the conversion of the Lorton, Virginia, garage into a fully electric facility and the purchase of 100 electric buses. It will also fund training programs for drivers, mechanics, and first responders.
• King County Metro Transit: Seattle-based King County Metro Transit will receive $33.5 million to purchase 30 electric buses, establish charging infrastructure, and provide training for workers. The project aims to convert 27 bus routes serving low-income areas and expand Metro’s apprenticeship program.
• Ohio: Ohio will receive $29.3 million to advance its transition to low- or no-emission buses.
• Iowa City: Iowa City, Iowa, will receive $23.3 million to support its efforts in adopting cleaner buses.
• Seneca Nation of Indians: The Seneca Nation of Indians will receive nearly $6 million to enhance their bus fleet with low- or no-emission vehicles.

The FTA received a total of 475 bids for grant funding, amounting to approximately $8.7 billion in requests.

While this funding announcement brings positive developments, it coincides with Senator Eric Schmitt’s introduction of a bill to prevent Secretary Buttigieg from using taxpayer dollars for private government plane travel. This follows a previous investigation by Americans for Public Trust, which revealed that Buttigieg had taken at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded Federal Aviation Administration resources. The organization is currently pursuing public records regarding the cost of these flights.

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