City of Durham to receive $10.8 million grant for public transit upgrades

The city of Durham is due to receive a federal grant worth about $10.8 million to make upgrades to its public transit system.

The city plans to renovate and upgrade Durham Station at 515 West Pettigrew St., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. The administration said the renovations will help improve safety and add passenger amenities. The upgrades include additional bus bays, expanded canopies, more seating and a customer service kiosk.

The funding is part of an infrastructure grant program that will award about $409.3 million to 70 projects in 39 states to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems.

Two other cities in North Carolina are due to receive funding in fiscal year 2021: The city of Greensboro is due to receive $3,008,800 and the city of Concord is due to receive $3,966,318.

The grants support improving the most widespread form of transit in America and will help dozens of communities buy new-technology and electric buses. It will help reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner air.

FTA Communications Director Paul Kincaid and city of Durham Director of Transportation Sean Egan are scheduled to hold a 3 p.m. ET Tuesday Zoom call to provide more information about the funding.