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AMSTERDAM, NY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) cheered news today that the Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) will receive $2,490,772 under the American Rescue Plan, a law that advanced with strong support from Tonko, for the Washington / Western BRT project. This 8.5-mile line will include 16 stations and range from the downtown Albany Bus Terminal, through the State University of New York at Albany and the Harriman State Office Complex, to the Crossgates Mall. These funds are set to be administered though the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.

“Strong public transit services will be a critical part of our work to rebuild our communities and our economy as we emerge from the long shadow of COVID,” said Tonko. “The Washington/Western BRT project holds incredible promise for our region to help workers commute, families and other travelers visit local and regional destinations and provide the connective energy that will lift up everyone within its extensive reach. I could not be more proud of our work passing the American Rescue Plan and ensuring these needed federal resources would be available to help our Capital Region and all who call this place our home.”

The CDTA Washington / Western BRT project is one of 22 transit projects nationwide in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program slated to receive emergency funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.

"Public transit opens new opportunities for people, and delivers environmental and economic benefits to communities," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We are delighted to provide support for these projects, which will help communities recover from the pandemic and bring public transit to more people in the months and years to come."

"This funding will help numerous communities across the country continue to protect jobs and advance important transit projects that otherwise might have been canceled or delayed due to the pandemic," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "These federal funding allocations are so important for transit agencies struggling in the wake of COVID-19."

The CIG Program provides funding for major transit infrastructure capital investments nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds. The funding does not count toward statutory Federal or CIG funding limitations, but rather is meant to assist project sponsors with their local match. 

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