Huntsville awarded $6M federal grant to replace older buses with hybrid buses

HUNTSVILLE — The wheels on the bus go round and round …

And, thanks to a federal grant, the wheels on the buses in Huntsville will go round and round for less cost while being more environmentally friendly.

The city was awarded a $6,098,667 grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) the Low or No Emission Grant Program, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced.

“As Huntsville continues to grow, our transit system must grow with it,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “This grant supports our long-term plan to modernize the fleet and ensure residents have access to reliable, efficient transportation.

“It’s a smart investment in the infrastructure that keeps our city moving.

Huntsville officials announced in July they had applied for the grant to purchase six fixed route hybrid engine buses. The new buses would align with the city’s “Go Huntsville Transit” improvement plan that includes expanded service and serve as replacements for 10-year-old diesel buses along with two 2008 model buses in use to meet expansion demands.

The six buses will cost approximately $7,176,689. In July, the city approved $1,078,022 to complete the funding for the project.

The new Low-No bus project is ready for immediate implementation through an existing contract with Gillig, upon receiving the grant agreement from FTA.

“We are incredibly grateful for this support from the FTA,” said Quisha Bryant, Director of Parking and Public Transportation. “Many in our community depend on public transportation every day. The new buses will reduce maintenance downtime and ensure our riders experience a smoother, more comfortable trip across Huntsville.”

Huntsville Transit operates 16 buses on 12 fixed routes across a service area of more than 100 square miles, serving a population of 143,441. The City also operates 20 peak paratransit vehicles throughout the city. Overall service ridership exceeds 2,500 passengers per day.

The grant was one of three the city applied for in July. The others were to purchase eight electric paratransit vans and associated charging infrastructure, and update and expand the former bus facility on Church Street.

City officials haven’t yet received notification about those awards.

FTA’s Low or No Emission Program awards funds on a competitive basis for transit agencies to buy or lease low-emission or zero-emission transit buses, along with related equipment and facilities. For FY 2025, approximately $1.1 billion was made available. The two programs combined created a funding opportunity totaling $1.5 billion for FY 2025.

“Transit buses provide a vital service for millions of Americans every day,” said FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro. “These grants will strengthen connections between communities, boost bus safety and reliability, and enhance mobility and quality of life for passengers.”