Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced Monday, June 26 Illinois has received a $12,299,377 grant from the Biden-Harris Administration’s infrastructure law to put new American-built buses on the road and improve transit service in their community. The grants, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration, were made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Casten helped get passed in Congress.
“I am thrilled to see funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law go towards investing in cleaner and greener buses, Illinois’ transit service, air quality, and livability,” said Congressman Casten. “Illinoisans need reliable public transportation, and this funding will ensure we stay connected the people and places that matter most while helping our planet.”
The grants were competitive. There were five times as many requests for funding than was available. In total, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced nearly $1.7 billion for transit projects in 46 states, territories, and D.C. during the round of funding. The funding includes support for workforce training, registered apprenticeships, and project labor agreements, ensuring good-paying jobs into the future.
“Every day, over 60,000 buses in communities of all sizes take millions of Americans to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”
The projects announced today are supported by FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. They make funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans; make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles; and purchase supporting equipment like chargers for battery electric vehicles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.5 billion through Fiscal Year 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined.
—Office of representative Sean Casten