Zero-Emission Transition Planning & Funding (Emerging Leaders Program)

On November 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. This bill seeks to address the United States’ most pressing infrastructure projects and guide investments in the transit industry. Nearly $39 billion of the bill is dedicated to modernizing transit including funding dedicated to zero-emission vehicle chargers and to fund the purchase of zero-emission transit and school buses. An influx of funding to that degree has the potential to expedite plans transit agencies already have in place for transitioning conventional fleets to all-electric or seeking funding for pilots where none was available. In addition to the infrastructure bill, the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better legislation, currently undergoing negotiations in Congress, proposes to invest even more funding into bus electrification efforts in the United States.

Our team surveyed public and private stakeholders in the transit industry regarding how a new influx of funding and federal policy will impact their fleet transition plans and other aspects of the industry. For example, will municipalities accelerate existing plans to transition their fleets to zero emissions? Do transit consultants expect to see any significant changes in the industry with an influx of new funding?

Presenters:

• Daniel Baker, Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Erik Belmont, Consultant
• Derek Crone, Gannett Fleming