FTA: $2.2B in ARP Additional Assistance Grants to 35 Agencies

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been awarded a $769.2 million ARP Additional Assistance grant from the Federal Transit Administration to cover expenses related to operations, cleaning and sanitization, and employee retention.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been awarded a $769.2 million ARP Additional Assistance grant from the Federal Transit Administration to cover expenses related to operations, cleaning and sanitization, and employee retention.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will distribute $2.2 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Additional Assistance grants to 35 transit agencies in 18 states; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is receiving the most, $769.2 million.

The Additional Assistance Grant Program funding—made available by the ARP Act of 2021, which President Biden signed on March 11, 2021—is being provided to transit agencies that have demonstrated a need for additional support to cover expenses related to day-to-day operations, cleaning and sanitization, combating the spread of pathogens on transit systems, and retaining employees, FTA reported on March 7.

FTA last fall announced that grant funding was available through a discretionary process to eligible recipients or sub-recipients of Urbanized Area Formula funds (49 U.S.C. 5307) or Rural Area Formula funds (49 U.S.C. 5311), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The list of recipients follows.

StateRecipientFunding Amount
CAAccess Services$5,000,000
CACity of Fairfield$2,369,577
CAFoothill Transit$50,000,000
CAGolden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District$75,029,220
CAOmnitrans$13,391,560
CAPeninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain)$38,831,570
CARiverside Transit Agency$15,569,198
CASan Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)$270,789,500
CASan Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority$26,144,693
CASan Francisco, City of$115,075,572
CASan Luis Obispo, City of$12,385,551
CASonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART)$7,471,416
CASunLine Transit Agency$525,000
CORegional Transportation District (RTD)$53,240,645
DCWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)$120,145,016
DEDelaware River and Bay Authority$11,953,358
HIHonolulu, City of$21,000,000
ILChicago Transit Authority (CTA)$118,409,985
INIndianapolis Public Transportation Corporation$51,029,180
MEAndroscoggin Valley Council of Governments$367,832
MNRed Lake Band of Chippewa Indians$540,000
NCFayetteville, City of$2,895,734
NDBismarck, City of$1,057,582
NMLas Cruces, City of$6,413,734
NYBroome County Department of Public Transportation$1,819,219
NYMetropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)$769,197,264
OHSouthwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority$62,300,000
OHToledo Area Regional Transit Authority$13,833,483
PALehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA)$12,544,967
PASoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)$96,017,640
TXFort Worth Transportation Authority$33,800,000
TXMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)$137,370,703
VATransportation District Commission of Hampton Roads$52,738,308
WIMilwaukee, City of$6,832,955
WIOneida Nation$1,470,832

Total Funds: $2,207,561,294

FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez

“Millions of Americans rely on their local transit systems to get to work and school, access medical care and critical services, relieve congestion, and reduce pollution,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said. “The pandemic has shown that public transportation is more essential than ever, which is why these funds are crucial to avoid drastic service cuts and layoffs that would damage the economy and public health.”

Separately, the ARP included $30.5 billion in federal funding to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 7, 99% of this funding has been allocated, FTA reported (see list below); the remaining allocation of $25 million in planning grants is slated to be announced soon.

FTA has awarded ARP Act of 2021 grants to Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), $912.1 millionMetra (Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation), $513.6 million; Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT, $332.5 million); Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA, $1.24 billion); New Jersey Transit (NJT, $1.6 billion); New York Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityTri-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).

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