The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) nearly $8 million from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects.

NCRTD, known as the Blue Bus across north central Northern New Mexico, will receive $5.9 million to renovate the District’s Jim West Regional Transit Center in Española and complete the second phase of construction for the future Taos Operations and Maintenance facility. These projects will improve maintenance and service reliability and accommodate current and future transit needs.

NCRTD will also receive $2 million to buy diesel-electric hybrid buses. The District will begin the transition to a zero-emission fleet in 2024, and these buses will provide a transitional low-emission technology to operate on lengthy regional routes between Taos and Espanola that are not yet suitable for battery-electric buses.

The projects are supported by FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. The Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities.

“The NCRTD was pleased to learn about the funding allocated for the Taos Operations and Maintenance Facility Phase II since this will provide funds for construction of the fleet maintenance building which is a critical component for the maintenance of vehicles and to provide safe and efficient transit services to Taos County,” said Anthony Mortillaro, NCRTD’s Executive Director. “The funds received for the Jim West Phase I expansion will allow the District to remodel the existing 2,500 square feet of space to alleviate overcrowding and provide for future space needs.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion through FY 2026 for the program. For FY 2023, approximately $473 million for grants was available under this program.

"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."

FTA's Low-No program makes 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 FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined. For FY 2023, approximately $1.22 billion was available for grants under this program.

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