The grants for CTDOT, LACMTA, NJT and NYMTA, totaling $9.37 billion, are part of more than $30 billion for public transportation in the ARP Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021. The funding—intended to help transit agencies maintain service as they continue to address decreased ridership and staff shortages due to the pandemic and the new variant—comes from the $26.6 billion allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, and tribal governments, and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities, according to FTA. The Act also included $2.2 billion for additional transit pandemic-associated need, which will be awarded later this year, FTA reported. No local share is required for this funding.

FTA has also awarded ARP grants to Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon ($289.1 million); Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority ($285.7 million); Washington state’s Sound Transit ($275.3 million); Miami-Dade (Fla.) Department of Transportation and Public Works ($249.4 million); Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Port Authority of Allegheny County ($216.9 million); San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System ($140.4 million); Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority ($859.6 million); Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority ($163.9 million); San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District ($330.8 million); Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District ($304.2 million); Houston Metro ($298.6 million); and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency ($288.2 million).

(In related developments, late last year, following sometimes contentious negotiations arbitrated by the FTA, the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut agreed on how to allocate Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and ARP funds to the CDOT, NJT and NYMTA.)

“As our nation’s transit systems recover from COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan funds ensure that they continue to provide service to the many Americans who depend on transit to get to essential jobs, healthcare, and vaccine appointments,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said.

“As Los Angeles County experiences another surge of infections in our nearly two year battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the resources provided to our agency through the American Rescue Plan Act will help us weather the storm, continue on our path to rebuild and grow our ridership, maintain the highest standards of service and safety, ensure no employee is laid off, and provide equitable access to transit for all Los Angeles County residents who rely on Metro buses and trains,” LACMTA Board Chair and LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said.

“This critical help from Congress is the reason we were able to keep most of our service running for essential trips during the pandemic and all of our workers employed,” added LACMTA CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins.

The post CTDOT, LACMTA, NJT, NYMTA: $9.4B in Grants for COVID-19 Response appeared first on Railway Age.