USDOT ponies up $100 million for 43 'green' transit projects

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will provide $100 million in stimulus funding to 43 transit agencies for projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lessening the nation’s dependence on oil.

The funding is provided through the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction grant program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in March. The Federal Transit Administration reviewed applications seeking more than $2 billion from the grant program.

The rail-related grants include:

• $4.5 million to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to install a wayside energy storage substation at Westlake Station on the Red Line subway;
• $2.5 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to design and construct wind energy generation turbines in eastern Massachusetts;
• $2.3 million to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to replace lighting fixtures and control systems, and upgrade roofs at several facilities;
• $2 million to MTA New York City Transit for a wireless remote third-rail heater monitoring and control system;
• $522,000 to the Maryland Transit Administration to replace Halon 1301 deployed at 24 facilities in and around Baltimore; and
• $250,000 to New Jersey Transit to complete energy audits at 20 of its largest facilities, and identify air compressor conservation opportunities at five locations.