VRT awarded $16 million competitive federal grant for electric buses, charging infrastructure

Valley Regional Transit (VRT) was awarded a competitive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Bus and Bus Facilities Grant this week for the proposed Towne Square Mall Transit Center Electrification and Rehabilitation Project.

The $16,723,347 grant will support the enhancement of public transportation services in the Treasure Valley, including:

• Fleet Modernization: VRT will acquire up to six new battery electric buses equipped with VRT’s new onboard infotainment systems, providing a more comfortable, reliable, and environmentally friendly experience for passengers. VRT currently has 12 electric buses in its fleet, with 11 additional electric buses expected to arrive over the next two years. After this grant is fully utilized, the Ada County bus fleet will be more than halfway toward VRT’s goal of 100% electric bus fleet in Ada County by 2030.
• Infrastructure Improvements: The grant will enable VRT to update passenger and operator amenities at the Towne Square Mall Transit Center, which is a crucial hub for VRT’s bus network providing a central transfer location for buses traveling throughout the valley. Improvements will include an updated passenger waiting area, additional bus bays, solar panels, on-site electric bus charging, public restrooms, dedicated space for bus operators, and enhanced security.
• Locally Powered Transit: The grant will further VRT’s goal of transitioning to a more sustainable electric bus fleet with the opportunity to explore on-route charging systems using innovative, low-cost battery storage solutions. This grant will also support the local economy by expanding the electric vehicle and charging infrastructure workforce and utilizing locally generated, renewable energy from Idaho Power.

“This grant will allow VRT and our partners to make much-needed investments to a crucial transportation center and support efforts to bring innovative strategies to the region,” said VRT’s CEO, Elaine Clegg. “Competitive federal grants continue to be an essential part of our funding strategy as we work toward a more sustainable transit system, and we are thrilled with this award.”

The Center for Transportation and the Environment, a national non-profit and leader in zero-emission bus deployments, helped prepare the grant application and will provide project management and technical assistance to ensure a successful deployment.

Competitive grants like those from the Bus and Bus Facilities program provide options for transit agencies to accomplish large projects where funding constraints might not otherwise allow it. VRT competed against 476 other projects and was one of 117 selected.

“It would not have been possible without the leadership from our partners at FTA’s Region 10 and the funding and support from our local stakeholders,” Clegg added.

The project received letters of support from the Idaho Congressional Delegation, the College of Western Idaho, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, COMPASS, the Idaho Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Treasure Valley Clean Cities Coalition, the City of Meridian, Idaho Power, and the City of Boise. The required $2.6 million in local matching funds comes from a large project reserve using contributions from the City of Boise. VRT thanks the City of Boise in particular for their project support.

“I’m so grateful for VRT’s partnership and vision for improving access to transit in our community, and the Administration’s help in rapidly advancing it,” said Mayor Lauren McLean of Boise. “This grant makes possible a critical jump forward in improving one of our key transit hubs, improving bus access and keeping our air clean with quiet zero emission electric buses.”

VRT introduced electric buses to its fleet in 2021. With this year’s grant, and in conjunction with previously awarded grants, VRT will continue to expand its electric bus fleet, enhance existing chargers at maintenance yards, and install new charging depots along bus routes in Ada County.