Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced $30.7 million in state and federal transit funding for urban and rural public transportation systems to purchase new, clean-fuel buses and support infrastructure improvements to transit facilities. Collectively, these systems help transport more than 240 million passengers annually.

Counties, cities and Upstate regional transportation authorities in urban areas will receive $16 million in state-funded Transit Capital grants. An additional $14.7 million in federal funds will be provided to smaller public transportation systems in the state’s rural areas.

“This significant investment in transit will help provide more efficient, reliable bus, rail and ferry services to residents all across New York State,” said Governor Spitzer. “The funding will also encourage transportation agencies and municipalities to reduce pollution by using clean-fuel vehicles while also supporting regional economic vitality by providing consumers greater access to businesses for needed goods and services.”

Assemblyman David F. Gantt, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee said: “Public transportation is not only a vital source of mobility for many urban and rural New Yorkers, particularly those of lesser means who have fewer transportation options, it is also important to the battle for cleaner air. These grants help to realize the Assembly’s long-time goal of encouraging greater use of public transportation. In fact, the addition of $17.5 million by the Legislature last year to the Executive budget was designed with these specific environmental quality and increased mobility goals in mind.”

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn said: “With today’s transit investment, we are able to provide essential transportation investments that will help communities modernize their transportation systems and continue to deliver high quality and efficient service. Public transportation is key to ensuring mobility for citizens and strengthening local economies throughout New York.”

The Transit Capital funding is being awarded to 14 municipalities and transportation authorities throughout the state. Eligible recipients include counties, cities and Upstate regional transportation authorities in urban areas. The grants are expected to help put more than 50 clean-fuel buses on New York’s highways, as well as make necessary upgrades to transit facilities. The funds also contribute to a wide variety of transit needs, including ferry upgrades, facility rehabilitation and modernization and light rail improvements in Western New York.

With this $16 million in Transit Capital investment, NYSDOT now has made a total of $142 million in grants available to urban transit agencies throughout the Empire State. To date, the program has helped fund approximately 225 new clean-fuel buses across New York State and supported numerous infrastructure improvements, such as upgrades to bus garages and terminals, heating and air conditioning improvements and replacement of fuel storage tanks.

Use of clean-fuel bus technologies results in lower emissions of oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter, which are sources of local pollution, and reduces carbon dioxide, a green house gas. Hybrid-electric buses are about 30 percent more efficient than those fuelled with diesel. Each hybrid-electric bus reduces conventional fuel usage by approximately 2,300 gallons a year. Natural-gas buses displace 100 percent of the petroleum used with an alternative fuel and provide fuel cost savings to the operators.

In addition, the $14.7 million in funding, provided from the federal Transit Administration Section 5311 program and administered by NYSDOT, will support the capital and operating needs of public transportation providers in rural counties and small cities with populations of less than 50,000.

These funds will be used to replace 185 buses, more than one-third of the total rural transit fleet in New York, with newer, clean-fuel buses. Funding will also be used to purchase or upgrade passenger shelters, bus stop signs, computer equipment and maintenance facility enhancements for 35 municipalities across the state. These grants finance 80 percent of capital costs, while the state and local governments each assume 10 percent of the balance. The $14.7 million investment of federal funds will leverage an overall $18.4 million investment.

A list of counties, cities and Upstate regional transportation authorities receiving urban Transit Capital grants this year is attached.