High Valley Transit receives $16M grant for new electric buses, chargers

Photo: High Valley Transit

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — High Valley Transit announced yesterday that it has been awarded $16.2 million in grant funding by the Federal Transit Administration. 

According to a press release from HVT, these funds will be used to purchase 10 new electric buses to replace older diesel models, five depot chargers and two on-route chargers. The grant will also support a training and internship program in partnership with Summit County that HVT hopes will support job creation in the Wasatch Back.

The grant was awarded as part of the FTA’s Low-and No-Emission program, an initiative that enables transit agencies to buy or lease low or no-emission vehicles. 

This year, the Low-and No-Emission Program awarded approximately $1.5 billion in grant funding to 117 public transportation projects in 47 states. In the past three years, the program has awarded nearly $5 billion to transit agencies to replace and modernize transit buses throughout the U.S. 

Prior to this award, HVT had eight electric buses in its fleet. Electric buses bound for Heber and back currently recharge at the Ecker Hill transit station at a propane-powered electric charging station as HVT awaits the completion of its new 7.92-acre transit facility in Summit County in early 2025.

The Utah Transit Authority was the only other Utah entity awarded a grant through the Low-and No-Emission program this year, receiving $18.1 million to replace older diesel buses with new battery-electric buses to be housed at its Meadowbrook facility.