Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge 

On April 22, 2022, FTA hosted an Earth Day event celebrating transit agencies that are taking bold actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transportation to support President Biden’s greenhouse gas reduction and climate equity goals. The event included speakers from various agencies and a presentation of 10 awards.

Launched by FTA last June to help advance President Biden’s ambitious GHG reduction goals, the Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge calls on transit agencies to develop strategies to reduce emissions, such as converting fleets to electric buses, making facilities more energy efficient, and generating power through renewable energy sources. We look forward to more agencies joining phase 2 of the Climate Challenge, as FTA continues to support transit agencies developing climate action and electrification plans or other strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Flexible Funding for Earth-Friendly Travel

FTA and the Federal Highway Administration launched a joint Flexible Funding website to encourage communities to use flex funding for projects that promote safer routes to transit. This support for bicycle lanes, better pedestrian walkways, trails, lighting and other projects enhances safety and access to transit stations and bus stops, reducing vehicle trips and providing an Earth-friendly way to travel.
Transferring, or flexing, funds from Federal Highway programs to the federal transit program facilitates federal investments at the local level for measures that improve access, particularly for underserved groups.

Supporting Transit Electrification

FTA remains committed to leading on efforts to combat climate change by ensuring communities:

• have the funding and technical resources they need to convert to greener transit fleets
• protect transit infrastructure and our transit workers
• encourage land use that supports equitable transit-oriented development. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes billions of dollars to invest in improving the nation’s infrastructure with cleaner, greener technologies, including through the FY22 Bus and Bus Facilities and the Low or No Emission competitive grant programs and the Electric or Low Emitting Ferry Pilot Program to support the transition of passenger ferries to electric or low-emission technologies.