Lansing Sun

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will utilize the $13.6 million it was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to renovate public transit bus fleets and facilities located in rural and small urban communities, a recent news release from MDOT said.

The FTA Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program will be drawn from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that calls for $10 billion in bus transit funding to update the country's transit bus fleet, the release said.

"Michigan continues to lead the way with clean, efficient public transportation," State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said in the release. "Local public transit systems provide vital transportation to Michigan's diverse populations, taking them to work, medical appointments and grocery shopping. Riders throughout the state can look forward to modern buses that will enhance services and improve air quality."

The initial grant of $6.2 million will help 13 public transit organizations update vehicles, along with adding to their fleets for the purpose of enhanced safety, service reliability and a cleaner environment, as some of the buses will be electric.

Six state-of-the-art electric buses are slated for the Benzie Transportation Authority and Thumb Area Transit to grow their fleets, the release said. Numerous rural and urban transit companies across Michigan will receive a total of 41 replacement vehicles.

The next grant will give the Alma Dial-A-Ride, the Benzie Transportation Authority, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority and the Thunder Bay Transportation Authority $7.4 million to renovate their facilities for increased safety, access and service reliability, the release said.

"In February, the State of Michigan issued a request for proposal for battery-electric, small, cutaway-style buses that will be used by several states to procure zero-emission buses to replace older-model diesel and gas vehicles," the release said. MDOT stated that it will help not only state transit companies that desire to transition to zero-emission vehicles, but agencies throughout the nation as well.