WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Glenn Ivey and Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced $25,475,520 in federal funding to upgrade Prince George’s County’s bus transit system. This investment will support the County’s efforts to transition to a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, including through the purchase of 15 new zero-emission buses, 5 new battery electric vans, and new level 4 electric chargers. These funds will also support other key elements of the County’s transportation initiative, including completing the construction of a new microgrid and energy management system and increasing demand response transit services.
The funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low or No Emission Grant Program, which the lawmakers fought to significantly boost funding for within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Today’s announcement comes after the lawmakers wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in April to support the County’s funding application.
“Upgrading our public transit with new, more efficient buses and vans not only benefits our environment – it also benefits the thousands of Marylanders who ride on Prince George’s County transit every day. These types of investments are exactly why we fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law, so across our state and our country we can bring our transportation systems into the 21st century, improve Americans’ commutes, and boost our economy,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Unprecedented storms, heatwaves and other severe weather events are becoming more frequent and are directly caused by climate change. Collective action is one of the best ways to address our climate crisis. This federal investment in transitioning Prince George’s County’s buses to a zero-emission fleet will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve our climate goals and create more environmental equity in a community that needs it most,” said Senator Cardin. “This is a substantial investment in our climate future that will have a significant impact for decades to come.”
“Improving air quality with low and no emissions transit vehicles is a great step in the right direction for cleaner air in densely populated areas. Disparities in air pollution disproportionately affects communities of color and lower income commuters because of hazardous carbon dioxide exhausts of heavy vehicles. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is critical to providing better, more efficient, and cleaner transit options for Marylanders and folks across the country. I applaud the leadership of Secretary Buttigieg and federal team Maryland in getting these monies for the 4th Congressional District and beyond,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey, (MD-04).
“This funding for new busses is the latest example of how Democrats’ Investing in America agenda continues to deliver results for Prince Georgians and all Marylanders,” Congressman Steny H. Hoyer said. “Across our state and nation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making Americans’ commutes shorter, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. Just as I was proud to put that legislation on the Floor as Majority Leader last Congress, I’m now working to implement these policies and programs in every corner of the country as Chair of the Regional Leadership Council.”
“Today, 117 communities, including Prince George’s County, are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies across 47 states replace old buses running on dirty, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go.”
“I want to thank the Federal Transit Administration for this 25.5-million-dollar grant to advance the Prince George’s County ‘Proud to Charge’ program,” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “These funds will be used to put more electric buses on the road, get more charging infrastructure installed, and bring Prince Georgians closer to the promise of a clean energy future.”
The lawmakers worked to reauthorize the Low or No Emission Grant Program at $5.5 billion over five years under the IIJA. For fiscal year 2024, the program was funded at $1.104 billion from the infrastructure law.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in American infrastructure that will provide more than $7 billion in federal funding directly to Maryland over five years to strengthen our infrastructure, from transit systems to roads and bridges to water infrastructure, broadband connectivity, and more. The lawmakers worked to secure passage of this law in Congress, which is helping spur job creation, enhance U.S. competitiveness, and make our transportation systems more sustainable and equitable.