PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) recived a $2,212,747 grant to purchase diesel-electric hybrid buses to replace older buses and new hydraulic heavy duty vehicle repair lifts at its maintenance facility. 

 

The project will improve transit worker safety, state of good repair, and increase service reliability for riders.? 

 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Low- and No- Emission Program (Low-No) award of approximately $31.3 million total to four Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) for the purchase of hybrid-electric and battery-electric buses. Funding from this grant award will also be used to purchase vehicle repair and charging equipment, as well as for the development of regional workforce training programs. 

 

The awards are part of the second bus grant package that has been funded by the Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. MassDOT will provide the required matching funds for these FTA awards. ??  

 

"We are grateful for the support from our federal partners at the FTA in funding clean and low-emission buses for several Regional Transit Authorities," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca. "This funding will allow our RTAs to make critical upgrades to facilities and vehicles to better serve their communities' transportation needs while working toward the Healey-Driscoll Administration's climate goals."? 

 

FTA's Low- and No-Emission Program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans, to make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles, and to purchase supporting equipment including chargers for battery electric vehicles.? The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times more than the previous five years of funding combined. For FY 2023, approximately $1.22 billion was available for grants under this program.?