The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a $29,331,665 Low-No Grants to the Ohio Department of Transportation on behalf of 10 recipients. In Ottawa County, the Ottawa County Transportation Agency (OCTA) was awarded $1,568,089.

“Transportation isn’t just moving vehicles, it’s moving people,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “We are happy to partner with the federal government to help our local transit agencies upgrade their bus fleets.”

This investment will support the Ohio Zero Emission Ready Ohio (OH-ZERO) project by allowing transit authorities across Ohio to replace older buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. Funding for this investment was made possible through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is getting resources to Ohio communities to improve transportation and support Ohio workers. We fought to secure this investment to create jobs and to connect people with jobs – saving them time and money,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown, chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees DOT’s Federal Transit Administration. “I’m working to make sure Ohio gets its fair share – or more – of infrastructure investment, so Ohio communities can improve transit options and create opportunity.”

Funding from the DOT for Northwest Ohio includes: $9,090,504 to the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority in Lucas and Wood Counties; and $3,571,579 to Seneca Crawford Area Transportation in Seneca and Crawford Counties.