California Transit Agencies Awarded Funds for Green Transportation

Four California transit agencies will be awarded funds for efforts towards green transportation. 

The Obama administration announced this week that it will deliver $100 million in Economic Recover Act Funds to transit agencies across the nation that are pursuing cutting-edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming, lessen America’s dependence on oil and create green jobs.

In all, 43 transit projects will be funded based upon the project’s ability to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to providing a return on the investment. More than $2 billion in applications were reviewed.

"This is a sign of things to come," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a release. "This shows how investing in green transportation not only helps the planet, but creates jobs and strengthens our economy.  It also shows how much more we can do."

The following California project proposals will be funded:

• AC Transit of Hayward (headquarters in Oakland), $6.4 million. To install photovoltaic capacity to generate “green” hydrogen and to install multiple PV modules at its Central Maintenance Facility in Hayward.
  
  
• The City of Santa Clarita, $4,620,000.  To allow canopies topped with photovoltaic modules to its Transit Maintenance Facility (TMF), which will generate electricity to offset electric power consumed at the site.
  
  
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Los Angeles), $4,466,000.  To install wayside energy storage substation at Westlake passenger station is at-grade level on the high-speed heavy rail subway Red Line.
  
  
• North County Transit District (North San Diego, headquarters in Oceanside), $2,000,000.  PV Solar Implementation at facilities, to install PV solar in a variety of facilities.

More than $7.2 billion has been awarded for transit improvements throughout the country since President Barack Obama signed the Recovery Act into law on Feb. 17 2009.

A total of $48.1 billion is being made available by the U.S. Department of Transportation for highway, transit, bridge, rail, shipyard and airport construction and repairs. More than half, at $26.5 billion, has already been obligated to projects.

"These grants will put Americans to work now while improving our environment in the future," said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. "The transit industry continues to be at the forefront of reducing pollution and creating a cleaner, safer environment for our nation."

James Spencer can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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