Albany – Some $30.7 million in state and federal transit funding was announced Tuesday for urban and rural public transportation systems to purchase new, clean-fuel buses and support infrastructure improvements to transit facilities. Collectively, these systems help transport more than 240 million passengers annually.

Counties, cities and Upstate regional transportation authorities in urban areas will receive $16 million in state-funded Transit Capital grants. An additional $14.7 million in federal funds will be provided to smaller public transportation systems in the state’s rural areas.

The Transit Capital funding is being awarded to 14 municipalities and transportation authorities throughout the state. Eligible recipients include counties, cities and Upstate regional transportation authorities in urban areas. The grants are expected to help put more than 50 clean-fuel buses on New York’s highways, as well as make necessary upgrades to transit facilities. The funds also contribute to a wide variety of transit needs, including ferry upgrades, facility rehabilitation and modernization and light rail improvements in Western New York.

 In addition, the $14.7 million in funding, provided from the federal Transit Administration Section 5311 program and administered by NYSDOT, will support the capital and operating needs of public transportation providers in rural counties and small cities with populations of less than 50,000.

These funds will be used to replace 185 buses, more than one-third of the total rural transit fleet in New York, with newer, clean-fuel buses. Funding will also be used to purchase or upgrade passenger shelters, bus stop signs, computer equipment and maintenance facility enhancements for 35 municipalities across the state. These grants finance 80 percent of capital costs, while the state and local governments each assume 10 percent of the balance. The $14.7 million investment of federal funds will leverage an overall $18.4 million investment.