The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide a financing of USD 197 million for railcar replacement projects implemented by the transit agencies, to improve reliability, safety, and accessibility of the rail transport.
“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of Americans rely on public transit every day to get where we need to go, yet far too many railcars are decades out of date.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,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
Transit agencies and state agencies can apply through the notice of funding opportunity for rail vehicle replacement programme. The proposals must be submitted electronically by December 18, 2023.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests USD 1.5 billion in new funding through 2026 for FTA’s vehicle replacement programme.
In May 2022, FTA allocated approximately USD 703.1 million to six projects through the programme, with the largest financing of USD 200 million provided to Chicago Transit Authority for the procurement of 300 railcars to replace the existing fleet operating since 1980s. Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District ranked the second with a USD 196 million federal funding for the acquisition of 48 light rail vehicles to operate on the LRT system in St. Louis metropolitan area.
“One-third of metro 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 aging railcars and make their systems more accessible,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said.
Older railcars used in metro, light rail, commuter rail, and other systems contribute to service delays and increased costs. Many of them are not accessible to people with disabilities, and many also lack newer features, such as digital signage and audio tools, that improve the riding experience, thus the railcar replacement projects are essential to deliver modern and accessible services.
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