Federal Transit Administration funding will support replacing 49 Sacramento Regional Transit aging buses with modern, low-emission vehicles and fund infrastructure upgrades that will improve service reliability, reduce emissions and enhance transit access in underserved communities. Photo courtesy of Sacramento Regional Transit

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is proud to announce the award of a $39.67 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Program. This critical funding will support the replacement of 49 aging compressed natural gas (CNG) buses with modern, low-emission vehicles and fund infrastructure upgrades that will improve service reliability, reduce emissions and enhance transit access in underserved communities.

 This project builds on SacRT’s momentum from the nearly $77 million Low-No grant awarded in 2024, which is supporting the transformation of SacRT’s McClellan facility into a state-of-the-art bus maintenance hub. Located at the former McClellan Air Force Base, SacRT’s McClellan facility was originally acquired in 2005 to relieve overcrowding at the Downtown Bus Maintenance Facility. However, SacRT’s McClellan facility has faced years of deferred maintenance.

A 2021 redesign enables the facility to house and maintain up to 270 buses, including the 49 new compressed natural gas buses funded through this grant and future clean-fuel vehicles. Together, these investments in fleet and facility will relieve pressure at the Downtown Bus Maintenance Facility and improve service reliability.

 SacRT is facing an urgent need to modernize its bus fleet. By the end of Fiscal Year 2025, 78 buses will be due for retirement, with 129 reaching the end of their useful life by 2028. The 49 buses being replaced through this project, some dating back to 2008, average 510,000 miles and 16 years in service and operate at just 56 percent availability, due to frequent mechanical issues. 

“This funding is another major step forward in our ongoing efforts to deliver cleaner, more efficient and more reliable transit for the Sacramento region,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “These new buses will improve the rider experience and help SacRT continue to operate frequent bus service through the region.”

Said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), “Clean and reliable public transportation is essential to the health and economic vitality of our region. I’m pleased to see SacRT receive this critical funding to replace aging buses and invest in infrastructure that supports underserved communities. These improvements will help reduce pollution, create good-paying jobs, and ensure that more residents have access to safe and efficient transit.”

Said Congressman Kevin Kiley, “This federal investment in SacRT’s bus fleet and maintenance infrastructure is a win for the Sacramento region. This project demonstrates that good things can happen when we work across party and geographic lines to get things done for local communities and residents.”

The new 2027 compressed natural gas buses will replace outdated models and are expected to significantly improve service reliability, reduce breakdowns and ensure compliance with the Federal Transit Administration’s spare ratio guidelines.

The project will modernize 69 percent of SacRT’s all-day bus routes, serving 26 percent of total riders, and is projected to cut lifetime emissions by more than 6 million kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is equivalent to taking 1,300 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

In addition to environmental and service improvements, the project will generate substantial operational savings. During the first two years of the manufacturer warranty, SacRT anticipates saving approximately $1.19 million annually on spare parts, $827,800 on non-preventive maintenance labor and $463,097 per year in fuel costs due to reduced consumption of 154,882 gasoline gallon equivalents.

This funding is part of the Federal Transit Administration’s broader effort to modernize transit systems nationwide. In 2025, the Federal Transit Administration awarded approximately $2.1 billion to 167 projects across 47 states and territories through the Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities programs.