The U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced USD 250 million federal funding for transit projects across the country to protect the jobs of workers and to ensure the continued advancement of those critical pieces of infrastructure, despite the impacts of COVID-19.
22 transit projects will benefit the financing from Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) programme, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Biden in March 2021. In February 2021, it was announced that the transit systems will benefit a USD 30 billion funding to prevent the pandemic effects.
The federal funding for transit projects will support small starts projects across 13 states under construction which will receive American Rescue Plan allocations.
Four rail transit projects will receive a total funding of USD 65.2 million for construction project covering rail extension totalling 25 km (15.7 miles).
The largest funding, of USD 20.7 million will be provided to Sound Transit for Hilltop Tacoma Link extension project covering the construction of a 3.9 km (2.4 miles) light rail line running along Commerce Street and Stadium Way to the Hilltop District in Tacoma, Washington.
Tempe ranks the second in terms of the funding value for the Tempe tram project. Valley Metro will receive a USD 17.4 million allocation for the construction of 4.8 km (3 miles) and 14 stations. This financing will also support the procurement of six trams. The line will link downtown Tempe, Arizona State University, and the emerging employment corridor of Rio Salado Parkway, which connects the existing light rail serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
In Portland the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) will receive USD 15.7 million for the Max Red Line extension and reliability improvement project. It covers the construction of a 12.5 km (7.8 miles) line extension from Beaverton Transit Center to Downtown Hillsboro. The project also will increase the reliability of the Max light rail system between Portland International Airport and Beaverton Transit Center.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will receive a USD 11.1 million allocation from American Rescue Plan funding for the CityLynx Gold Line Phase II tram project covering the construction of a 4 km (2.5 miles) west extension from the Charlotte Transport Centre to the campus of Johnson C. Smith University and east from the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Centre to the Sunnyside neighborhood.
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