Chelan supports Link Transit low emissions grant application

CHELAN – The city council approved a letter of support at its April 23 bi-monthly meeting for a Link Transit application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for its 5339(c) Low- or No Emission Grant Program. The grant is a competitive opportunity introduced in 2015 to support the U.S. transition to low- and zero-emission public transit fleets. 

The city’s letter of support says in part:

“The City of Chelan recognizes the benefits of having our region’s public transportation agency operate electric buses. With funding provided by this Low-No Grant, Link will continue to build sustainable transportation solutions to serve their growing urban and rural communities in more comfortable, reliable, and quieter vehicles.”

The FTA website transit.dot.gov/low no Last February the FTA made available $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 funding to support state and local efforts to buy or modernize buses, improve bus facilities, and support workforce development. Of this, $390 million in funding is authorized under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program.

The funding opportunity advances FTA’s priorities of strengthening U.S. bus manufacturing, containing vehicle costs, and accelerating the delivery of new vehicles. This funding opportunity also introduces streamlined application requirements for tribes requesting less than $1 million, making it easier for tribes with relatively small requests to apply. 

Eligible projects include:

• Purchasing or leasing low- or no-emission buses.
• Acquiring low- or no-emission buses with a leased power source.
• Constructing or leasing facilities and related equipment (including intelligent technology and software) for low- or no-emission buses.
• Constructing new public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses.
• Rehabilitating or improving existing public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses.
• Additionally, 0.5 percent of a request may be for workforce development training and an additional 0.5 percent may be for training at the National Transit Institute (NTI). Applicants proposing any project related to zero-emission vehicles must also spend 5 percent of their award on workforce development and training as outlined in their Zero-Emission Transition Plan unless the applicant certifies that their financial need is less.

The city letter of support goes on to state that Link will use the grant funds to “purchase five new battery electric vehicles that will replace gasoline powered vehicles on a one-on-one ratio, increasing the percentage of Link Transit’s electric fixed-route fleet to 73 percent.”

The letter adds that “The Washington State legislature set a standard for all transit agencies to use 100 percent electric or biofuel to power their fleets. “This investment would put Link Transit on a pathway to achieve that measure and continue to connect people and communities, foster commerce, operate seamlessly across boundaries, and provide travel options to achieve an environmentally conscious system.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media