June 26, 2023

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $36.7 Million in Funding for Illinois Transit Systems from Department of Transportation’s Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs

 

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $36,709,423 in grant funding awarded to Illinois transit systems by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs.

Duckworth and Durbin also secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for a new pilot program focused on procuring electric paratransit vehicles for rural Illinois transit agencies.

The Low-No Program will support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles by providing funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction and leasing of required supporting facilities. The Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program is to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities. 

“Transitioning to electric vehicles—and other green energy sources—puts us on the path to a healthier environment while opening up new avenues for economic growth and job creation in our state,” said Duckworth. “With this federal support, we’re able to help modernize Illinois’s public transit by replacing and rehabilitating bus fleets across the state with low-pollution, energy efficient models.”

“Electric vehicles enable a cleaner future, and they also create jobs across the state,” said Durbin. “These federal funds provide Illinois’ transit systems with the critical resources they need to deploy the latest technology and maintain reliable, affordable services for Illinoisans.”

Recipients of Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities grants include:

  1. Illinois Department of Transportation (Statewide Paratransit Vehicle Replacements for 33 grantees): $12,600,000
  2. Illinois Department of Transportation (Statewide Deployment of Battery Electric Paratransit Buses for 24 grantees): $12,299,377
  3. Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD 40-Foot Hybrid Replacement Buses): $6,635,394
  4. Rockford Mass Transit District (Hybrid Bus Procurement): $4,094,652
  5. Madison County Mass Transit District (Heavy Duty 40-Foot Bus Replacement): $1,080,000 

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