SEATTLE, WA — The
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces federal funding will be allocated to two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure projects in Washington state. Funding is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Small Starts Program.
“Millions of Americans rely on public transit to get to work, services, and family — and communities need support to create more public transit options," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to modernizing and expanding our public transit systems, and that includes support for these great projects.”
The BRT projects receiving allocations are nearing completion of the statutory and regulatory requirements in order to receive a grant agreement. The projects must meet these additional requirements before a grant can be awarded. BRT is a bus-based transit system that delivers service that may include lanes, busways, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms, and enhanced stations.
“The local communities will greatly benefit from improved access and mobility to transit service, helping people reach vaccination sites, jobs, schools, and other important destinations,” said FTA Acting Administrator Nuria Fernandez.
The CIG Program provides funding for major transit infrastructure capital investments nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.
Everett, Washington: Swift Orange Line BRT Project
Community Transit will receive a $37-million allocation for the Swift Orange Line BRT project, an 11.3-mile BRT corridor with 13 stations between Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood and the McCollum Park and Ride in Mill Creek. The project connects with two other Swift BRT lines, as well as Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension light rail project. Swift Orange Line service will improve connectivity in the region, better meet the needs of riders, and is scheduled to begin operating by March 2024.
Seattle, Washington: Madison Street BRT Project
The
City of Seattle Department of Transportation will receive a $59.9-million allocation for the Madison Street BRT project, a 2.3-mile east-west BRT line operating diesel-electric buses along Madison Street spanning from downtown Seattle in the west to the Madison Valley neighborhood in the east, with connections in First Hill, Capitol Hill, and the Central Area. It will connect people to hospitals, schools, businesses, and other destinations as well as to dozens of bus routes, the First Hill Streetcar, and ferry service at the Colman Dock Ferry Terminal.
