© Shutterstock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced it had awarded an additional $281 million in funding the FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program.

Funding was awarded to five transit projects in Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Texas that have a construction grant agreement or are nearing completion of all statutory and readiness requirements.

Projects must go through a multiyear, multistep process to qualify for the CIG program.

“FTA continues to evaluate and advance projects in the CIG program, considering each project on its individual merits while demonstrating good governance consistent with discretion afforded in federal law,” FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams said.

In Arizona, the Tempe Streetcar was awarded $25 million. The $201.9-million program will connect downtown Tempe and Arizona State University and also will connect to light rail serving the airport, Mesa, and Phoenix.

In California, the Los Angeles Westside Purple Line Section 3 project was awarded $100 million, and the San Diego Mid-Coast Corridor Light Rail project was awarded $80 million.

In Minnesota, the Minneapolis Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit, linking the area’s job centers, was awarded $74.08 million.

In Texas, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Red and Blue Line platform extensions project was awarded $2 million.