Hampton Roads Transit has been awarded an $8.48-million federal grant toward replacing its aging administrative headquarters, a former Cadillac showroom on Monticello Avenue, The Virginian-Pilot
 reports.

It's part of a $775-million initiative announced Monday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to bring buses, bus facilities and related equipment into a state of good repair.

With the grant, HRT is $2.1 million shy of the $13 million to $15 million needed for a new administration building, HRT spokesman Tom Holden said. Holden said the agency is confident it will secure the remaining funding.

"It's difficult to justify major investments on repairs for a building that's outlived its useful life," he said.

The headquarters will be the second phase of a construction project under way on a new bus operations and maintenance center on 18th Street.