Ohio EPA, ODOT Award Diesel Emission Reduction Grants for Public Transit

1/13/21
MEDIA CONTACTS: Dina Pierce, Ohio EPA, [phone]
Matt Bruning, ODOT, [phone]

The Ohio Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program has awarded eight grants totaling almost $10 million for replacing 40 aging diesel transit buses with newer, cleaner diesel or alternative fuel technology. Twenty-three of the buses will be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), nine by propane, and eight by new cleaner diesel technology.

Ohio EPA estimates that these projects will result in a reduction of more than six tons of air pollutants annually. These benefits will continue to accrue each year the new buses remain in service.

The projects that were funded include:

• Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Franklin County, is receiving $1.89 million to cover 80 percent of the cost to replace four 2009 diesel-powered buses with four new compressed natural gas-powered buses.
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) in Cuyahoga County, is receiving $1.97 million for 61 percent of the cost to replace six 2005 diesel-powered buses with six new compressed natural gas-powered buses.
• Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA) in Montgomery County, is receiving $793,000 for 80 percent of the cost to replace two 2010 diesel-powered transit buses with two new diesel-powered buses.
• Lake Transit Authority (LAKETRAN) in Lake County, is receiving $996,000 for 80 percent of the cost to replace nine 2015 diesel-powered buses with nine new propane-powered transit buses.
• METRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO) in Summit County, is receiving $855,000 for 80 percent of the cost to replace two 2010 diesel-powered buses with two new compressed natural gas-powered buses.
• Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) in Portage County, is receiving $723,000 for 60 percent of the cost to replace two 2002-2005 model year buses with two new compressed natural gas-powered buses.
• Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) in Hamilton County, is receiving $1.93 million for 60 percent of the cost to replace six 2009 diesel-powered buses with six new diesel-powered buses.
• Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) in Stark County, is receiving $831,000 for 78 percent of the cost to replace seven 2014-2015 diesel-powered buses with seven new compressed natural gas-powered buses.

Funding for the grants comes from the Federal Highway Administrations' Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. The next DERG application deadline is expected to be in autumn 2021. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact [e-mail] to receive email updates when the 'Request for Proposals' is released. Applications may be submitted for projects in 35 eligible Ohio counties, and portions of three other counties. The Ohio program is administered jointly by the Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio EPA.

More information is available online:
http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx#131364252-diesel-emission-reduction-grants.