Mountain Metropolitan Transit (MMT) is getting a large grant to upgrade the bus fleet from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The grant is part of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. The Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing nearly $2 billion for the program.
"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," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country."
The FTA received 475 applications for the grants, but only awarded 130 nationwide, six in Colorado. MMT was the largest recipient of these grants in Colorado with an award of nearly $3.2 million to purchase new low or no emission buses.
“We are very excited to get this grant,” said Lan Rao, Transit Division Manager. “This will allow us to purchase six electric hybrid buses that will not only improve the service to our riders, but they will also improve the air quality for the Colorado Springs community.”
MMT hopes to have the buses by late 2024.