BSOOB Transit Awarded $350,000 for Smart Grid Enhancements
March 21, 2023 – Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit (BSOOB Transit) has been awarded $350,000 through the new federal Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. Yesterday, U.S. Department of Transportation announced the first round of grants totaling over $94 million for 59 projects across the country.
“Every major advancement in the history of U.S. transportation has involved technological progress,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The investments we are making today are about fostering innovations that improve people’s day-to-day lives, making transportation safer, more reliable, more efficient, and more sustainable.”
The BSOOB Transit award will focus on the assessment and deployment of smart grid technology to prepare the region for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) authorized and appropriated $100 million annually for the SMART Grants Program. The program is structured in two stages, in which applicants initially seek Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants. Selected projects are then eligible to apply for Stage 2 Implementation Grants.
The SMART Grants Program will fund projects that focus on using technology interventions to solve real-world challenges facing communities today. The program funds purpose-driven innovation and discourages investment in technologies that do not provide a clear improvement over the status quo.
“Given our growing battery-electric bus fleet, the size of our operation, and the necessity for impactful change from the transportation sector, we are excited and energized by the opportunity to develop and demonstrate new strategies,” said BSOOB Transit Executive Director Chad Heid.
For more information call us at 207-282-5408.