As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread in the United States and hold much of the world in its grip, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced additional American Rescue Plan grants to help transit agencies continue to battle the impacts of COVID. The funds are specifically targeted to help transit agencies maintain service and keep workers on the payroll as communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards have been made at a crucial moment as agencies nationwide are facing the challenge of the new variant.

RT&S reported yesterday that Secretary Buttigieg announced a $1.24 billion grant to Los Angeles Metro. Further grant announcements have been made since that report was published. Specifically:

• $6.2 billion to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA);
• $1.6 billion to NJ TRANSIT;
• $332.5 million to the Connecticut Department of Transportation

To date, FTA has awarded more than $56 billion in COVID-relief funding to transit agencies nationwide. Under the American Rescue Plan, other recent awards include a $395.6 million grant award to King County Metro in King County, Washington, a $285.7 million grant award to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in Atlanta, Georgia, and a $6.2 million grant award to the City of Ames, Iowa.

“Public transportation has helped people reach their jobs at hospitals, grocery stores, ports, and more throughout this pandemic,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will help keep transit service running, protect transit employees from layoffs, and ensure people can get where they need to go.”

This funding is part of more than $30 billion for public transportation in the American Rescue Plan Act which was signed into law by President Biden last March. The funding comes from the $26.6 billion allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, tribal governments, and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Act also included $2.2 billion for additional transit pandemic-associated need, which will be awarded later this year. No local share is required for this funding.

Read more articles on passenger rail.

The post U.S. DOT announces more federal grants to transit agencies appeared first on Railway Track and Structures.