January 19, 2021
FTA Awards Grants to Help Transit Tackle COVID-19 Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
The City of Portland, Ore., will receive $439,950 to replace Portland Streetcars’ cloth seat coverings with “easy-to-sanitize” vinyl; educate riders with new message boards at stops; and hire public health-trained staff to ensure vehicles are properly sanitized and the system is adhering to public health guidelines.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is distributing $15.8 million to 37 transit projects through its new Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program.
Announced in October, the program was created following transit agency requests that FTA support research addressing COVID-19-related operational challenges.