Oklahoma Tribe Receives Funding for New CNG Transit Buses

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of approximately $10 million to help American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments initiate, improve and enhance transit service on Tribal Lands.

Among the recipients, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma will receive $92,500 to purchase replacement buses that run on CNG to continue providing public transportation for residents to travel to jobs and services in the Oklahoma counties of Dair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Ottawa and Rogers. In 2014, the Cherokee Nation provided 79,776 bus rides.

“These and other Tribal Transit grants provide funding for buses, vans and transportation planning that helps ensure that everyone can access critical services and economic opportunity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The money, which is awarded through FTA’s Tribal Transit Program, will provide grants to 55 tribes for 65 competitively selected transit-related projects in 18 states.

The projects will receive awards from a combination of fiscal year 2014 and 2015 annual discretionary funds. Combined with about $25 million a year in formula funds, FTA’s Tribal Transit Program provides a transportation lifeline to rural tribal citizens by connecting them with employment, education, healthcare, and other vital services. Funding for Tribal Transit was increased to $30 million under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on December 4, 2015.