Continue funding support for the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI)

This Cooperative Agreement award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), under the Bus Testing program (CFDA 20.529), provides $5,104,455.00 in funding to The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) to continue operating the FTA Bus Testing Center at its Larson Transportation Institute. Under this multi-year award running through September 2028, Penn State will perform federally-mandated testing on new and updated transit bus models, evaluating factors such as maintainability, reliability, safety, performance, structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise. Penn State will prepare comprehensive test reports with pass/fail scores to inform procurement decisions by FTA grantees purchasing new buses with federal funds. This work supports the FTA's mission to ensure buses acquired with federal dollars meet minimum performance standards for safety, efficiency, and reliability.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to continue funding support for the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI). This work involves performing federally mandated testing of transit buses to satisfy the requirements in 49 U.S.C. 5318 and 49 CFR part 665.

Activities

The activities conducted under this award involve the continuation of testing on new bus models and previously tested bus models produced with major changes that are intended to be purchased using FTA funding. Buses will be tested for maintainability reliability safety performance (including braking performance) structural integrity fuel economy emissions and noise. LTI will prepare a comprehensive test report for each bus model tested that will provide a pass/fail score in accordance with the federal regulation.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcome to this work is to provide comprehensive test results that will inform the decision making of FTA grantees during the procurement process. Reports will also provide a pass/fail score that determines whether a new bus model meets the minimum expected performance criteria necessary to be eligible for FTA funding.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of this work include taxpayers FTA grantees procuring new bus models bus manufacturers that will enhance the performance reliability and safety of their vehicles and transit users who will benefit from more reliable efficient and safer buses.

Subrecipient activities

There are no subrecipients under this award.