Three central North Carolina transit agencies received more than $32 million in federal grants Friday through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program.
- GoTriangle received $17.7 million toward a $67 million expansion of its Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility in Morrisville. The project adds a 25,000-square-foot multi-story structure, more parking for service vehicles, a service lane and bus wash, and a redesigned site layout. GoTriangle says the expansion is expected to extend the facility's useful life by at least 30 years.
- The City of Durham received $6.1 million to purchase new buses.
- Chapel Hill Transit received $8.8 million to buy up to 13 replacement buses and driving simulation technology for operator training.
GoTriangle President and CEO Brian Smith credited the region's congressional delegation, including Representatives Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee, and Brad Knott, for supporting the awards. GoTriangle will cover the remaining $49.3 million of the Morrisville project through local transit funding already approved in regional transit plans.