TX-2024-030

Application Purpose: This application is to obligate $20000000 in bus and bus facilities program funds awarded to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin Texas for the construction of a demand response operations and maintenance facility and workforce development.
Activities Performed: The funding will be used to construct the Springdale Demand Response Operations and Maintenance Facility, a new state-of-the-art site accommodating the future expansion of MetroAccess and Pickup demand response service, supporting operational efficiencies, advancing sustainability goals, and prioritizing community connectivity by incorporating a dedicated community space. Also $1000000 (5 percent of the requested federal award) will be used for workforce development activities.
Expected Outcomes: CapMetro's state-of-the-art Springdale Demand Response Operations and Maintenance Facility will support operational and maintenance efficiencies, advance sustainability goals, and prioritize community connectivity in Northeast Austin. This facility provides the necessary space required to operate and maintain the growing fleet of MetroAccess and Pickup vehicles. It is designed to optimize service response and aligns with area plans for sustainability, community access, and strategic investment.

CapMetro's workforce development activities will address the identified skills and tools needed to operate and maintain zero-emission buses.
Intended Beneficiaries: North Austin is experiencing significant growth driving greater demand for transit services, including paratransit and on-demand public transit service. A new facility will better serve the growing population, including disadvantaged communities in North Austin. The project is located within an EJ area defined by CapMetro's Title VI policy as census tracts with over 50% minority residents (non-white) and/or households earning 125% of the federal poverty level. The facility will integrate sustainable features and community gathering spaces and support demand response service growth. Short and long-term benefits for residents include continued and expanded access to reliable and affordable transit and renewable infrastructure in their community. The $20M federal investment will proactively address racial equity and barriers to opportunity for the 73% minority residents (non-white) in the project's census tract and CapMetro employees through increased service reliability, transit access, and employment opportunities.

The project will ensure the development of a workforce that is engaged and participative in the process of training and retraining staff that is correctly and effectively trained in zero-emission vehicle technologies. It will create a community gathering space, expand facilities for paratransit service, connecting residents to opportunities, and invest in a historically underinvested neighborhood. The facility will provide economic, environmental, and social benefits to North Austin's linguistically isolated (80th percentile) and low-income (40%) disadvantaged communities. The project will incorporate sustainable features to minimize the impact on the community, including renewable energy, recycled water, and EV components for a low/no emission fleet supporting climate change resiliency. The facility will include public community space for educational, business, governmental, and social activities as needed in a community. The grounds will support increased food access by providing space for farmers markets and mobile food pantries. The facility expansion and replacement will allow CapMetro to keep up with the growth in the region and effectively serve disadvantaged communities and those with disabilities who rely on these services to access essential resources and deserve access to all that is offered in this growing region.
Subrecipient Activities: There are no subrecipients.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

THE GRANTS FOR BUSES AND BUS FACILITIES COMPETITIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO REPLACE REHABILITATE AND PURCHASE BUSES AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AND TO CONSTRUCT BUS-RELATED FACILITIES INCLUDING TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES OR INNOVATIONS TO MODIFY LOW OR NO EMISSION VEHICLES OR FACILITIES.

20.500 - Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants

FTA Region 6 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Texas United States

State-Wide

FTA2022002TPMBUSC

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 1641% from $4,375,821 to $76,175,000.