Texas A&M Transportation Services Receives Funding For Transit Enhancement

Texas A&M Today

By Texas A&M University Transportation Services Staff

Published: December 10, 2018

The Brazos Transit District (BTD) received notice that the BTD will receive over $14 million as award recipients of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Texas A&M University Transportation Services will also be allocated funding through this grant to enhance the transit system at the university.

“We are extremely fortunate to be one of the recipients of BUILD 2018. Sincerest thank you to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and for the strong support from our senators, Texas house members and congressional house members, as well as state, Texas A&M Transportation Services and local officials. The widespread support of this project from officials at many levels helped underscore the critical nature of the project,” said John McBeth CEO Brazos Transit District.

According the BTD, the awards will be used to replace 12 BTD diesel buses, which is expected to improve the performance, efficiency, and capacity of the BTD fleet in both cities of Bryan and College Station.

Texas A&M Transportation Services will use their allocation to retire 20 buses from the aging fleet, three will be electric and 17 will be diesel. This will allow the university to improve the performance and efficiency of the overall transit fleet.

“We are thrilled with our partnership with Brazos Transit District and especially excited about being benefactors of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program,” said Peter Lange, Associate Vice President, Texas A&M Transportation Services. “The timing of this news brings great relief in knowing we will soon be able to replace 20 buses in our existing fleet that are beyond their useful life.”

“Transit plays a critical role in connecting Americans to healthcare, economic opportunity, and to education – that’s true in Bryan/College Station, and around the country. This will help meet the huge demand on transit services in Bryan/College Station, and on the integrated transportation model that we provide in partnership with Texas A&M University Transportation Services,” McBeth added.

Brazos Transit District officials will travel to Washington D.C., Tuesday, Dec. 11, to meet with U.S. Department of Transportation officials. More information regarding the award will be provided as it becomes available.

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