The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that it will provide approximately 197 million USD in funding to help transit agencies replace ageing passenger railcars to improve safety, accessibility and reliability.
Older railcars contribute to service delays and increased costs on the nation’s subway, light rail and commuter rail networks. These vehicles also lack newer features, such as digital signage and audio tools that enhance the passenger experience.
In addition, many railcars are currently not accessible to people with disabilities.
“Millions of Americans rely on public transit every day to get where we need to go—yet far too many railcars are decades out of date. Thanks to President Biden, we are delivering new funding to replace old rail and subway cars with newer, safer, more accessible ones.”
This funding is part of the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is investing 1.5 billion USD in FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program through to 2026.
Last May, FTA allocated approximately 703.1 million USD to six projects through this programme.
To access this next round of funding, transit agencies and state agencies can apply through the Notice of Funding Opportunity on FTA’s website.
“One-third of subway and commuter rail vehicles are more than 25 years old. Americans who ride transit deserve the opportunity to travel on newer, safer, and more efficient railcars, and we are proud to provide support for transit agencies to make the significant investments needed to replace their ageing railcars and make their systems more accessible.”
