Low or No Emission Vehicle Program - 5339(c)

What's New
On March 4, FTA hosted a webinar to provide more information about FTA's Low-No FY 2021 notice of funding, including application eligibility and criteria, and the submission process. FTA issued its notice of funding opportunity for the Low-No program on February 11, 2021 and applications are due by April 12, 2021.
Overview
The Low or No Emission competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.
- Watch our four-minute video highlighting the Low and No-Emission Grant Program, which supports new technologies that are changing the makeup of bus fleets nationwide.
Allocation of Funding
Funding is allocated to projects on a competitive basis, from proposals submitted to FTA in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Past project selections include:
- FY 2020: $129,956,625
- FY 2019: $84,951,386
- FY 2018: $84,448,990
- FY 2017: $54,992,016
- FY 2016: $55,000,000
Technical Assistance
- View the April 2018 National RTAP Webinar: FTA Low No Emissions Program Grant Writing
- FTA contracts with the National Renewable Energy Lab to evaluate zero-emission bus research and demonstration projects.
- FTA hosted webinars on deploying low- or no-emission buses that feature speakers from agencies that have been successful in introducing zero-emission buses, including recipients of FTA’s Low-No grants.
- February 1, 2017 - Center for Transportation and the Environment
- January 24, 2017 - CALSTART
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include direct or designated recipients of FTA grants; States; local governmental authorities; and Indian Tribes. Except for projects proposed by Indian Tribes, proposals for funding eligible projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated state proposal. States and other eligible applicants also may submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas.
Eligible Activities
Eligible projects include:
- purchasing or leasing low- or no-emission buses
- acquiring low- or no-emission buses with a leased power source
- constructing or leasing facilities and related equipment (including intelligent technology and software) for low- or no-emission buses
- constructing new public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses
- rehabilitating or improving existing public transportation facilities to accommodate low- or no-emission buses
Statutory Reference
49 U.S.C. 5339 (c)/FAST Act Section 3017
Funding Availability
Funds are available the year appropriated plus three years.
Match
All eligible expenses under the Low-No Program are attributable to compliance with the Clean Air Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Therefore the Federal share of the cost of leasing or purchasing a transit bus is not to exceed 85 percent of the total transit bus cost. The federal share in the cost of leasing or acquiring low- or no-emission bus-related equipment and facilities is 90 percent of the net project cost.