USDoT rolls out $25bn coronavirus response

The US Department of Transportation (USDoT) is rolling out $25 billion in funding for public transit services, which have been hit hard by Covid-19.
By Adam Hill April 14, 2020 Read time: 1 min
USDoT hopes the cash injection will protect transit services (© Photovs | Dreamstime.com)

It is also giving $1 billion in federal emergency assistance to passenger railway service Amtrak.

The department’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is allocating the money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (Cares) Act.

“This historic $25 billion in grant funding will ensure our nation’s public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who depend on them,” said US transportation secretary Elaine L. Chao.

It will be split between urban areas ($22.7bn) and  rural ($2.2) and can be used to support programmes and expenses around the prevention, preparation and response to the pandemic.

“We know that many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling Covid-19,” said FTA acting administrator K. Jane Williams.

“These Federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies, including those in large urban areas as well as pay transit workers across the country not working because of the public health emergency.” 

Mass Transit & MaaS

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Poll: Americans would pay more gas taxes to fund road projects
    June 12, 2014
    Two-thirds of Americans (68 per cent) believe the federal government should invest more than it does now on roads, bridges and mass transit systems, according to a new American Automobile Association (AAA) omnibus survey of 2,013 adults. Only five per cent of respondents believe the federal government should spend less on transportation. These results come as AAA urges members of Congress to increase the fuel tax, which will address significant transportation safety and congestion issues nationwide. The
    Read More
  • Dignity should be key measure of MaaS success
    December 4, 2020
    Money isn’t everything: what if we made dignity into the key measure of success for MaaS? Crissy Ditmore sets out her vision statement for the industry’s developers
    Read More
  • Virgin to build 35km Saudi hyperloop test track
    August 1, 2019
    Virgin Hyperloop One is working with Saudi Arabia’s Economic City Authority (ECA) to conduct a study to build a 35km test and certification track. The company claims its technology can reduce travel times between cities: it says the trip from Riyadh to the Red Sea port of Jeddah would be slashed from 10 hours to 76 minutes, for example, with the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi route cut from 8.5 hours to 48 minutes. The study will take place in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), located 100km north of Jeddah. It w
    Read More
  • US DOT makes funding available for positive train control implementation
    July 29, 2016
    The US Department of Transportation has made US$199 million in competitive grant funding for positive train control (PTC) implementation. The grants, which will be selected by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and awarded and administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will help commuter railroads implement PTC, which prevents accidents and saves lives. FRA will accept applications until 5 pm EDT on 28 Sept. 28ember. Projects eligible for grants must develop information that ass
    Read More

Highlighted Content