FTA divides $112 million among 46 “green” transit projects

Written by jrood

The Federal Transit Administration has doled out $112 million to 46 transit projects, which were chosen for their capacity to help cut the nation's dependence on oil and create marketplace for 21st century "green" jobs.

“These grants will put thousands of Americans back to work building sustainable, energy-efficient transit vehicles and facilities across the country,” said U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The Obama Administration is committed to investing in the cutting-edge transportation projects that will keep our economy moving forward.”

Projects were selected through the FTA’s competitive Fiscal Year 2011 Sustainability Initiative, which includes funding from two FTA programs: the Clean Fuels Grant Program and the TIGGER III Grant Program.
Examples of key projects receiving federal funds include:

• South Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s Tri-Rail project will receive approximately $5.7 million from the TIGGER III Program to showcase Tri-Rail’s first green, LEED certified, sustainable stations, which will generate more than 100 percent of the station’s energy demand through solar panels. The project will send excess energy back to the power grid and store daytime energy for nighttime lighting of the station, parking area and other parts of the facility.

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive $1.4 million to install a “wayside energy storage system” on the Market-Frankford rail line, consisting of a battery that stores energy generated by braking trains. The stored electrical power can then be used later whenever energy is needed.

The Federal Transit Administration reviewed 266 project applications for both grant programs representing more than $1 billion in funding requests from transit providers across the country.

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