Provide financial assistance for replacement vehicles (paratransit and support vehicles) preventive maintenance state of good repair activities for the union station and roberts street facilities…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Greater Hartford Transit District $9.784 million on August 19, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to fund capital equipment, facility improvements, and technology upgrades across the district's transportation infrastructure.

The award funds replacement of approximately 26 paratransit vehicles (anticipated Ford E-450 Cutaway models or similar) to replace units that have reached end of useful life, including vehicle inspection services. The district is leading a statewide joint procurement scheduled for fall 2026. One support vehicle replacement (anticipated Ford Escape pool car for GHTD staff use) addresses another unit exceeding its useful life.

Capital equipment and miscellaneous expenses covered include IT hardware and software, TRAPEZE-related Title VI posters for buses, bus decal replacements, office phone replacements, camera software support renewals, phone software upgrades, replacement radios and parts, and other unforeseen capital needs. The award also provides supplemental funding for a new DOJ/ADA-compliant website to replace the existing website, which is not fully functional on mobile devices and requires compliance updates. Additional activities include design for an acoustics improvement project in Union Station's Great Hall, preventive maintenance and state-of-good-repair activities at Union Station and Roberts Street facilities, maintenance and shop equipment repairs, and security improvements.

Performance period runs through June 30, 2029. All work is performed in Connecticut.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide financial assistance for replacement vehicles (paratransit and support vehicles) preventive maintenance state of good repair activities for the union station and roberts street facilities additional funds for major capital construction projects at union station (detailed in previous grants) design for an acoustics improvement project in the great hall of union station maintenance/shop equipment and repairs at roberts street security improvements and miscellaneous equipment/IT services. This grant will be used for additional funds for a new DOJ/ADA compliant website.

Activities

Activities to be performed(1) replacement of paratransit vehicles. The district anticipates purchasing approximately 26 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 TBD however IT is anticipated to be twenty six (26) ford e-450S cutaway paratransit vehicles or similar. The district is leading a statewide joint procurement which will go out to bid this fall (2026)/(2) funding under this project will be used for the FY26 element of the districts scheduled capital equipment upgrade consisting of:-miscellaneous capital expenses: unforeseen expenses i.e. IT hardware/software trapeze-related title VI posters for buses replacing bus decals office phone replacements camera software support renewals phone software upgrades replacement radios and parts etc.-support vehicle replacement: one support vehicle that has exceeded its useful life will be replaced with one (1) pool car likely a ford escape. The vehicle will be used by ghtd staff. -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. This is a request for supplemental funds. There are also funds in CT-2025-008. -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): -general state of good repair activities: 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.) -great hall acoustics improvement project design. This project be for the design of acoustic upgrades within the great hall including: discreet ceiling-mounted and wall-mounted sound-absorptive panels reducing reverberation and echo improving speech intelligibility for announcements and wayfinding coordinating treatments to maintain historic aesthetics.-union station HVAC replacement (supplemental funding): the district is working on updates to the design and expects to go out to bid in fall 2026 for construction in SPRING2027. Additional funds are needed for AE construction construction management. -transit center roof (supplemental funding): the district has partial funding in existing grants for the transit center roof project however the balance of funds is below the most recent cost estimate from february 2025. (4) safety and preventative maintenance repairs to 148 roberts street east hartford CT (including):-state of good repair: critical life safety and preventative maintenance repairs. Sogr activities include but are not limited to: painting minor construction building lock repairs HVAC repairs plumbing/electrical repairs security camera repairs exterior facility treatments stormwater management modifications parking lot repairs pigeon deterrents in maintenance area etc.-maintenance area equipment and upgrades (plus misc. Shop tools and equipment). Some equipment will include key making machine tools/equipment for bucket truck skid steer repairs snow scraper 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.