Transportation receives $2.4 million from Federal Transit Administration to improve bus stop accessibility

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Transfort, the City of Fort Collins’ public transportation operator, received a $2.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Tuesday to fund its Accessibility Improvement Project, which will improve accessibility infrastructure and convenience at bus stops in Transfort’s service area.

The project, which will be carried out in collaboration with Colorado State University (CSU), will provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant improvements to more than 40 existing bus stops, including stops on CSU’s Main and Foothills campuses, ADA improvements to the Downtown Transit Center’s concrete infrastructure, and the purchase and installation of amenities such as bus shelters, benches and lighting.

“Public transit is one of the most climate-friendly and resident-friendly services a city can provide,” said Mayor Jeni Arndt. “We are pleased to work with our federal partners to better serve the public and improve air quality for all.”

Funding from the project will also go toward the construction of 10 new ADA-compliant bus stops to accommodate future expansion on North College Ave., helping Transfort advance its vision of a transit system that serves all citizens equitably.

“This $2.4 million grant from the FTA is an important step toward creating a more inclusive transit system and meeting our climate action goals,” said City Manager Kelly DiMartino. “By improving accessibility and investing in low-emission technologies, we are not only improving the quality of life for our residents, but also demonstrating our commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. We are excited to partner with CSU on this grant and modernize bus stops throughout the system as well as on CSU campuses.”

Federal support for bus and bus facility projects in recent years has been instrumental moving people and helping communities meet their climate goals.

Tuesday’s announcement is part of about $1.5 billion in funding to support 117 projects that improve public transportation in 47 states. Over the past three years, the FTA has sent nearly $5 billion over the past three years to replace and modernize transit buses on American roads, building new ones technology with American workers. American factories will produce more than 3,650 new buses.

The projects announced on Tuesday are supported by the FTA Grants for buses and bus facilities And Low and Zero-emission (low-emission) vehicle programs.

THE Grants for buses and bus facilities The program provides federal funding for transit agencies to purchase and rehabilitate buses and vans and construct and modernize bus facilities. The bipartisan infrastructure bill provides nearly $2 billion through 2026 for the program. For fiscal year 2024, approximately $390 million in grants were available under this program.

Free Trade Agreements Low or no emissions The Low-No program provides funding for the purchase or lease of low- or zero-emission vehicles made in the United States, including buses and vans, retrofitting facilities and stations to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles, and purchasing supporting equipment such as electric vehicle charging stations. The bipartisan infrastructure bill provides $5.6 billion through 2026 for the Low-No program, more than six times the previous five years of funding. For fiscal year 2024, approximately $1.1 billion was available for grants under the program.

For more information on Transport, visit ridetransfort.com.