Two Kentucky transit agencies will receive over $8.7 million in federal grants for improvements to their bus maintenance facilities, according to an announcement from U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration under the Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Lextran, the Transit Authority of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, has been awarded $6.1 million to purchase new vehicles for its fleet. Lextran plans to acquire seven new buses and ten paratransit vehicles to replace older equipment.
“Lextran will use this federal funding to replace several vehicles that are nearing the end of their useful service life,” said Senator McConnell. “These new buses will improve reliability, increase efficiency, and help Lextran carry out its mission to provide dependable transportation services for families and workers across Lexington.”
Fred Combs, AICP, Lextran General Manager, commented: “Receiving this grant is a proud achievement for our agency that reinforces our commitment to the community we serve. Adding 10 new paratransit vehicles and 7 fixed-route buses to our fleet strengthens our transportation network. These investments will enhance connectivity for riders, improve the reliability of our daily service, and elevate safety across all operations. We are grateful for the ongoing support from the Federal Transit Administration and Senator McConnell for this investment.”
Louisville’s Transit Authority of River City (TARC) will receive $2.62 million in federal funding to create a dedicated bus brake maintenance shop that will consolidate all brake maintenance into one facility.
“This federal funding will allow TARC to expand its operations, and the new brake-maintenance shop will help keep buses running safely, reliably, and on time,” said Senator McConnell. “Reliable public transit connects riders across Louisville and its suburbs to jobs, schools, and local businesses. TARC plays an important role in keeping our community moving, and this investment will strengthen the service that so many families rely on every day.”
Ozzy Gibson, TARC Executive Director, added: “TARC is committed to providing great service to the city of Louisville; this award places us in a better position to do just that as we move toward implementing the New TARC Network next August. With the expansion of the 10th street maintenance facility, service reliability and performance across the fleet will improve for the Greater Louisville area; TARC is incredibly grateful to Senator McConnell for his support of this grant.”
Senator McConnell supported both agencies’ applications by writing letters on their behalf to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
