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10 ALL ABOUT MONTANA MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2022
Billings MET Transit Awarded
$3.8 Million for Electric Buses
In August the Federal Transit Bus Facilities Program. Transit agencies
Administration awarded the City of Billings throughout the nation are eligible to apply
Metropolitan Transit System $3,880,316 in for funds and must provide written justi-
competitive grant funds. fication and supporting documentation for
The money will go toward purchasing the proposed projects. Available funding
four electric buses, which will replace four for transit was expanded significantly in
older diesel buses that have reached end the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which
of life. The grant also includes updates provides more than $5.5 billion specifically
to the MET facility, to support electric for low- and no-emission bus projects over
bus charging, as well as funds for train- a five-year period.
ing transit staff to operate and maintain In August the Federal Transit Administration award- MET Transit’s application was one of
electric vehicles. ed the City of Billings Metropolitan Transit System 150 projects selected for funding out of
“This is a very exciting development $3,880,316 in competitive grant funds. The money a total of 530 applications submitted. All
will go toward purchasing four electric buses,
for MET Transit and the City of Billings,” which will replace four older diesel buses that have projects funded across the nation totaled
said Transit Manager Rusty Logan. “MET reached end of life. Photo courtesy City of Billings. $1.66 billion and will put more than 1,100
has been making strides in recent years on electric buses into service.
improving transit service and the customer “The proposed service changes will Previous competitive grants have
experience, while setting the stage to even- not only make the system operate more allowed MET Transit to establish a much
tually transition to green technology, as we frequently but will expand overall usability more reliable fleet in recent years. MET
will do with these grant funds.” of the system,” said Logan. “When con- Transit previously received competi-
Logan said the grant includes funding sidered with the addition of electric buses, tive funding through the Bus and Bus
focused on training MET’s workforce. Billings will have expanded options in Facilities Program in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
“Staff will be able to adapt to the various making climate-friendly transportation This funding was used to replace buses,
aspects of using electric buses while still choices. More people being able to use upgrade technology and maintenance
being able to rely on the more familiar diesel the system means less cars on the road, equipment, and make improvements to
technology while we transition,” he said. which means less pollution overall. Add the MET Transit facilities. Since 2018,
The funding comes as MET Transit is in electric buses, and you’ve got an even MET has applied for and received more
finalizing future service improvements to more climate friendly option.” than $9 million in federal competitive
meet the needs of the growing population The competitive grant program is grant funding for capital projects. MSN
in Billings. funded under the FTA’s Low-No Bus and
