(The Center Square) — The federal government is sending more than $45.3 million in federal taxpayer money to three Georgia transit agencies, including money for two systems to buy battery-electric buses.
The money is part of roughly $1.5 billion in funding the Federal Transit Administration announced Tuesday for 117 public transportation projects in 47 states. The funding is part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which some call the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The federal government awarded the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority more than $25.3 million to build the 2,500-square-foot South DeKalb Transit Hub, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Officials said the hub would serve “four high ridership bus routes.”
“This grant covers almost 70 percent of the funding for this project and supports the improvement of bus facilities and amenities and workforce development in DeKalb,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said in a statement. MARTA will pull the remaining funding for the roughly $37.5 million South DeKalb Transit Hub from its capital budget.
The feds are sending Chatham Area Transit Authority nearly $7.9 million to, in part, replace diesel buses with battery-electric buses and chargers. Additionally, Augusta-Richmond County will receive more than $12 million to replace older buses with battery-electric buses and buy a bus simulator for workforce training.
The FTA said it received 477 “eligible project proposals” totaling $9 billion.
