Housatonic area regional transit requests $1185794 in FY 2024 FTA section 5307 urbanized area program funds for operating and capital expenditures

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Housatonic Area Regional Transit District (HART) $2,053,588 under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) on June 5, 2025, for operating and capital expenditures through June 30, 2027. HART's original funding request of $1.19M supports continued operation of local dial-a-ride paratransit services in the greater Danbury, Connecticut region, including wages and salaries for drivers, schedulers, and supervisors who serve seniors and passengers with disabilities. The grant funds critical infrastructure improvements, including replacement of underground storage tanks with two new 10,000-gallon tanks to ensure regulatory compliance, and miscellaneous support equipment such as a replacement coin counter, steam cleaner, lubrication pumps, additional onboard cameras for enhanced security, and office furniture.

The award directly benefits over 80% of HART's ridership, which relies on the service for employment access, while also providing broader regional economic benefits through reduced accidents and congestion. The infrastructure and equipment upgrades are designed to improve operational efficiency and security of public bus services while ensuring compliance with environmental storage regulations. No subrecipient activities are associated with this award.

Activities

Activities to be perfomed include continued operation of local dial-a-ride service including wages and salaries of drivers schedulers and supervisors. Replacement of underground storage tanks requires engineering removal of tanks at the end of their useful life according to regulations and installation of two new 10000 gallon tanks. Miscellaneous support equipment includes replacement coin counter steam cleaner additional onboard cameras for buses lubrication pumps and office furniture.

Expected outcomes

Continued and more efficient operation of public bus services in the greater danbury CT region meeting the needs specifically of seniors and passengers with disabilities. Compliance with regulations for underground storage tanks. Improved security via installation of extra onboard cameras providing new views of driver-side of the bus with vantage down the center lane of the road. Coin counter steam cleaner and lubrication pumps are presently using old equipment that needs replacement.

Intended beneficiaries

Over 80% of hart riders use the service for access to employment. A significant portion of the ridership uses the bus service for all their transportation needs. Transit services boride economic benefits reduce accidents and reduce congestion so positively impact non-transit riders.