Provide financial assistance for replacement vehicles preventive maintenance state of good repair activities for the union station and roberts street facilities security improvements and miscellaneous…

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $7.85 million to the Greater Hartford Transit District on August 4, 2025, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to fund critical transportation infrastructure and technology improvements through March 31, 2028. The award supports the procurement of approximately 36 paratransit vehicles (anticipated to be Ford E-450 cutaway vehicles, with exploration of electric alternatives if available) to replace aging fleet assets, along with comprehensive preventive maintenance and state-of-good-repair activities at the Union Station and Roberts Street facilities. The funding also encompasses capital equipment upgrades including information technology (IT) infrastructure replacement, Trapeze software upgrades, dispatch console improvements, and interim radio system enhancements necessary to maintain fleet communications.

Additional deliverables funded through this grant include the development of a new Department of Justice (DOJ) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant website to replace the existing system's mobile device limitations, miscellaneous capital expenses for unforeseen operational needs, safety improvements at key transit facilities, and administrative support for grant and project management activities. This Formula Grant reflects the FTA's ongoing commitment to supporting local transit authorities in maintaining reliable, accessible public transportation infrastructure and services within urbanized areas.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide financial assistance for replacement vehicles preventive maintenance state of good repair activities for the union station and roberts street facilities security improvements and miscellaneous equipment and IT services. Additionally this grant will be used for service and fleet transition planning task based AE services and a new DOJ/ADA compliant website.

Activities

(1) replacement of paratransit vehicles. The district anticipates purchasing approximately 36 paratransit vehicles to replace those that will have met their useful life. The total cost of rolling stock will be inclusive of vehicle inspection services. The vehicle type is to be determined however IT is anticipated to be thirty-six (36) ford e-450S cutaway paratransit vehicles. If electric paratransit vehicles are available the district will explore those options. (2) funding under this project will be used for the FY25 element of the districts scheduled capital equipment upgrade consisting of:-IT equipment / replacement schedule required to replace old servers computers etc. -trapeze upgrade to the most recent version of software. - dispatch consoles and relocation of bus antennas: interim radio improvements needed to maintain fleet communications. -new DOJ/ADA compliant website: the existing website is not currently fully functional from mobile devices and needs updates to be in compliance with DOJ/ADA requirements. -miscellaneous capital expenses: unforeseen expenses i.e. pids server/monitor replacements title VI posters for buses replacing bus decals office phone replacements camera software support renewals phone software upgrades replacement radios etc. -in addition administrative work including grant management and project management activities will take place as part of the implementation of this application and its scope of work.(3) safety and preventative maintenance repairs to union station one union place hartford CT (which are consistent with the ghtds 2017 master plan (attached.): -sogr activities such as ongoing HVAC plumbing roof soft spot repairs in floors replacement of broken windows camera repairs elevator repairs painting/repairs etc. (design and construction.) -passenger information display system: the existing pids at hartford union station was installed 2014. Work includes the replacement of the critical components that has been recommended in order to prevent failure of the system. -parking lot equipment replacement (spruce street lot): recommended equipment replacement (from parking lot management company.) the equipment that needs to be replaced includes: entrance ticket spitter machine the exit pay-in-lane machine pay-on-foot machine in transportation center software potential need to replace gates depending on the new parking equipment and the integration between the gates and equipment. -task based AE services: the district has a number of capital projects in the pipeline (i.e. concrete bus BAY rehab parking lot resurfacing/restriping flooring (roberts street) etc.) on-going AE services are needed to develop plans to go out to bid and for oversight. (4) safety and preventative maintenance repairs to 148 roberts street east hartford CT (including):-general state of good repair activities: critical life safety and preventative maintenance repairs. Sogr activities include but are not limited to: painting epoxy floor (maintenance) flooring/tiles exterior finishing/staining stair tread replacement HVAC repairs high speed door at wash BAY etc.-maintenance area equipment and upgrades (plus misc. Shop tools and equipment). Some equipment will include floor scrubber washer fluid tank and coolant tank replacement etc.

Expected outcomes

Funding will permit ghtd to meet preventive maintenance standards and maintain ghtds fleet and facilities in a state of good repair. Additionally funding will improve security to protect ghtd assets.

Intended beneficiaries

This funding will allow ghtd to continue to provide reliable responsive and safe transportation to the public in the greater hartford area.