BREAKING NEWS: Salt Lake County and the "Wasatch Back" Will Receive a Combined Total of Over $34.3 Million In Federal Grant Monies to Replace Older Diesel Buses with Electric Buses

The U.S. Department of Transportation is granting a total of over $34.3 million to replace older diesel buses with new electric buses in both Salt Lake County and portions of Summit County, Utah (known locally as the "Wasatch Back.")

Specifically, the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. DOT is issuing grants of $18.1 million and $16.275 million, respectively, to

• The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and
• The High Valley Transit District* via the Utah Department of Transportation,

to replace aging diesel buses with new electric buses.

According to the FTA news announcement, the over $34 million in federal grant monies coming to these Utah entities are part of "... the approximately $1.5 billion in (federal government) funding to support 117 projects that will improve public transportation in 47 states."

And, as it turns out, Utah is 1 of 25 states to land two or more of these FTA eBus grants.

In the case of the $18.1 million UTA grant, the FTA explained that the monies are slated to be used to "... replace older diesel buses with new battery-electric buses, which will be housed at their Meadowbrook facility."

According to UTA's Hal Johnson, Director of Innovative Mobility Solutions,

“The funding will be used to systematically replace older diesel buses with new battery-electric buses. These new electric buses and our expanding electric bus charging infrastructure offer more low emission travel options, marking a significant milestone in our environmental initiatives.”

Additionally, the FTA document specifically called out UTA use of these new electric buses in "disadvantaged communities within Salt Lake County" to help "reduce harmful emissions."

Separately, according to the news release we were able to obtain from High Valley Transit, the FTA funding will allow HVT to acquire

• "... 10 new electric buses,
• "5 depot chargers, and
• "2 on-route chargers."

Additionally, HVT says that the FTA monies "... will (also allow it to) fund a first-of-its-kind training and internship program, in partnership with Summit County."

The FTA further clarified that

"... the High Valley Transit District ... funding (will) replace and expand its aging diesel fleet with new battery electric buses to meet growing ridership demand."

* — AUTHOR'S NOTE: For readers unfamiliar with High Valley Transit District, the nonprofit was formed in January 2021 to "... provide transit and mobility solutions for residents and visitors of Utah’s Wasatch Back from Jeremy Ranch to Deer Valley and Midway to Park City and places in between."

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