Provide funding in support of the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI) specifically by supporting purchasing and or leasing of…

Summary

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a $2.0 million Cooperative Agreement to The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) on September 18, 2025, through the Bus Testing program (CFDA 20.529) to support operations of the FTA Bus Testing Center at Penn State's Larson Transportation Institute (LTI). The award funds the purchase and lease of hydrogen fueling support and safety equipment necessary to enable testing of hydrogen-powered buses submitted for federally mandated compliance testing under 49 U.S.C. 5318 and 49 CFR Part 665. This equipment acquisition directly supports the continuation of the facility's comprehensive bus testing operations through the September 30, 2029 completion date.

Through this funding, LTI will conduct federally required performance testing on new bus models and previously tested models with major modifications, evaluating maintainability, reliability, safety performance, structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise characteristics. Penn State will generate comprehensive test reports assigning pass/fail scores for each tested bus model, with results informing procurement decisions by FTA grantees nationwide. No subrecipient activities are involved under this award. The expected outcome is a cost-effective and safe hydrogen fueling solution that enables the testing center to provide reliable performance data supporting the procurement and deployment of more efficient, reliable, and safer transit buses.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide funding in support of the operation of the FTA bus testing center at penn state universitys larson transportation institute (LTI) specifically by supporting purchasing and or leasing of hydrogen fueling support and safety equipment. LTI will use this equipment to fuel hydrogen powered buses submitted for federally mandated testing to satisfy the requirements in 49 U.S.C. 5318 and 49 CFR part 665. This activity is eligible for funding under bus testing.

Activities

LTI will use the funding provided by this agreement to select and acquire hydrogen fueling support and safety equipment for bus testing operations at the LTI test track. The activities conducted under this award support the continuation of testing new bus models and previously tested bus models produced with major changes available for purchase using FTA funding. LTI tests buses for maintainability reliability safety performance (including brake performance) structural integrity fuel economy emissions and noise. LTI will prepare a comprehensive test report for each tested bus model that will provide a pass/fail score in accordance with the federal regulation.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcome to this work is to have a cost effective and safe solution for fueling hydrogen powered buses which will in turn support the bus testing centers objective to provide comprehensive test results that will inform the decision making of FTA grantees during the procurement process.

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.