KCATA Receives Largest Grant for New Buses In 20 Years

(Kansas City, Mo. – Sept. 8, 2016) -- The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $8,986,350 to purchase new buses. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the selections for Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program. This award is the biggest Bus and Bus Facilities Grant KCATA has earned since 1993.

"This is a very big win for the region to stabilize and improve bus service,” KCATA President/CEO Robbie Makinen said. “It will enable us to right size the fleet, and explore innovative ways to deploy service, including the introduction of over-the-road coaches for the region.”

KCATA will use the funds to purchase 16 30-foot buses, two over-the-road coaches, two Bus Rapid Transit (MAX) vehicles, and two 40-foot buses. The total cost of the vehicles is expected to be $10,572,176, with local matching funds providing the difference.

 “We are grateful to our bistate congressional delegation for working so hard to earn this grant award and for their continued support for funding Prospect MAX,” said Makinen. “We also appreciate the continued support of the Federal Transit Administration and Region VII Administrator Mokhtee Ahmad for their responsiveness to communities’ needs.”

The grants will provide more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders across the country. Sixty one projects in 41 states, the Virgin Islands, and Indian Country will receive a share of nearly $211 million to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase transit buses and related equipment, and construct bus-related facilities.

Demand for FTA’s Bus Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received 284 applications totaling $1.64 billion from 236 applicants in 47 states. Project proposals were evaluated based on set criteria, with priority given to projects that address significant repair and maintenance needs, improve the safety of transit systems, include advanced technologies to connect bus systems with other networks, and support the creation of ladders of opportunity.

“The Obama Administration is committed to improving transportation options that connect people in rural and urban areas across the country to opportunities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These grants will improve mobility for thousands of transit riders who depend on bus service every day, expanding access to employment, education, healthcare, and other important services in their communities.”

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in December 2015, authorized FTA’s competitive Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program through 2020.