$8.5 Million in Grants Keep WRTA and the Valley Moving Forward

Thanks to the bipartisan support of United States Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Bill Johnson and local community leaders, Western Reserve Transit Authority will receive three federal grants, totaling nearly $8.5 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  

The three grants include a $4,313,552 Buses and Bus Facilities grant is to construct and improve the WRTA bus maintenance and operations facility — commonly called a “bus barn.” The grant “will provide funding for the replacement of one of our bus barns that hasn’t been updated since the 1970s and when the update is complete, the new bus barn will be ready for the future with the ability to charge battery electric buses and make our operation more efficient,” said Dean Harris, WRTA executive director.

A second award of $2,940,480 comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with the Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grant fund. It is to complete engineering and final design of the reconstruction of the Federal Street station.

The money also would be used to turn it into a mixed-use, transit-oriented facility that includes a new sheltered passenger terminal, parking garage, electric vehicle charging stations and other amenities.

It’s important to note the support of the community in securing the RAISE grant.  Community organizations, government officials and leaders sent letters of support of this project. 

The third grant is $1,208,632 for WRTA to replace older buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. WRTA will use much of the money to replace its gas-powered fleet of 47 large buses and about 25 smaller ones with low-emission and no-emission buses. WRTA has a goal of going all electric by 2040 and will begin converting its bus fleet to electric in 2026.

WRTA provides more than transportation… it supplies a direct route to jobs, personal freedom and the Valley’s economic future. That’s why WRTA is always moving forward, providing efficient service, supporting employers and workers, partnering with the community and preparing for a zero-emission future. 

“These grants will play a key role in keeping WRTA and the Valley moving forward.” said Harris.