U.S. Government allocates $15M to acquire Autogas bus infrastructure across six states

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 130 awards totalling nearly $1.7 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects in 46 states and territories. This funding invests in more than 1,700 American-built buses powered by alternative fuels, including LPG, which will be manufactured with American parts and labour.

“Today, we are creating new opportunities to dramatically improve the lives of millions of Americans who ride on buses every day,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants will help deliver a cleaner and more modern mode of transportation, designed to reach everyone, and to work for everyone, particularly in places that haven’t received enough resources in the past.”

The projects selected to receive Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding include:

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), on behalf of Mountain Express Transit, will receive $753,118 to buy LPG-powered vans and buses, upgrade its bus facility, and provide workforce training for their new vehicles. The vehicles will help to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for residents living in Archuleta County.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation, on behalf of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council (Heartland Express) and Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (Prairieland Transit), will get $1,456,970 to buy Autogas buses and supporting fuelling equipment. The project will improve service and reliability and lower maintenance costs for the southwestern Minnesota rural transit providers.

The Coast Transit Authority dba MS Coast Transportation Authority (Mississippi) will obtain $1,760,000 to acquire low-emission bi-fuel gasoline/LPG-fuelled buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purchase will help the agency progress on its climate action plan to achieve zero emissions by 2050.

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma will receive $6,407,460 to build a bus maintenance facility and buy Autogas transit vehicles as well as a LPG refuelling station. The new facilities will facilitate the transition to a greener fuel, better serve transit services’ current and future growth, and promote the Seminole Nation’s economic self-determination, sovereignty and sustainability.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation on behalf of RCPT, PHT, and PT will get $1,276,628 to purchase nine low-emission LPG buses and conversion equipment for River Cities Public Transit, Prairies Hill Transit and People’s Transit to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and provide maximum energy conservation.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority (VIA Metropolitan Transit), in Texas, will obtain $3,187,200 to acquire 15 LPG-fuelled paratransit vehicles serving people with disabilities in San Antonio and 14 small municipalities. The agency will move forward to having the same fuel source for its entire fleet.

Photo: Mountain Express Transit

Source: U.S. FTA

19 July 2023