Lancaster – On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao named the
projects that have been selected to receive a portion of a $900 million investment in American infrastructure. The
Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grants program (or BUILD)
will fund 55 projects in 35 states. Antelope Valley Transit Authority is thrilled to announce that AVTA’s GROW LIFE
project is one of these 55 recipients.
Growing Regional Opportunity with Leveraged-Infrastructure Fleet Expansion (GROW LIFE) received grant
funding of $8,683,480 towards a project with an estimated total cost of $14,014,352.
“AVTA is pleased to move forward with the GROW LIFE project,” said Board Chair Marvin Crist. “Community
members from all over the AV will benefit from this project’s expansion elements. Congratulations to the AVTA
staff for this accomplishment.”
According to U.S. Secretary Chao, the Trump Administration is targeting BUILD Transportation grants to repair,
rebuild, and revitalize significant infrastructure projects across the country. The program selection criteria
encompassed safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, state of good repair, environmental sustainability,
innovation, and partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders.
587 projects have been funded to date and typically go to support large infrastructure such as rail, bridge,
highways, visitor center, roadway expansion, multimodal facilities. About half of the funds awarded go to rural
areas but less than 1.25% of all projects go to bus companies and only about 6.5% of projects awarded are located
in California.
AVTA's GROW LIFE project is the only bus company in California to ever be awarded this grant.
“This is a huge win for our Antelope Valley communities,” said AVTA Senior Director Martin Tompkins. “The GROW
LIFE project plans to add eight 40-foot and twelve 30-foot zero-emission buses to our fleet, fortifying our service
to Mojave Air & Space Port and Edwards Air Force Base, and pursuing an expansion of our Route 4 and the
addition of service to Plant 42.”
projects that have been selected to receive a portion of a $900 million investment in American infrastructure. The
Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grants program (or BUILD)
will fund 55 projects in 35 states. Antelope Valley Transit Authority is thrilled to announce that AVTA’s GROW LIFE
project is one of these 55 recipients.
Growing Regional Opportunity with Leveraged-Infrastructure Fleet Expansion (GROW LIFE) received grant
funding of $8,683,480 towards a project with an estimated total cost of $14,014,352.
“AVTA is pleased to move forward with the GROW LIFE project,” said Board Chair Marvin Crist. “Community
members from all over the AV will benefit from this project’s expansion elements. Congratulations to the AVTA
staff for this accomplishment.”
According to U.S. Secretary Chao, the Trump Administration is targeting BUILD Transportation grants to repair,
rebuild, and revitalize significant infrastructure projects across the country. The program selection criteria
encompassed safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, state of good repair, environmental sustainability,
innovation, and partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders.
587 projects have been funded to date and typically go to support large infrastructure such as rail, bridge,
highways, visitor center, roadway expansion, multimodal facilities. About half of the funds awarded go to rural
areas but less than 1.25% of all projects go to bus companies and only about 6.5% of projects awarded are located
in California.
AVTA's GROW LIFE project is the only bus company in California to ever be awarded this grant.
“This is a huge win for our Antelope Valley communities,” said AVTA Senior Director Martin Tompkins. “The GROW
LIFE project plans to add eight 40-foot and twelve 30-foot zero-emission buses to our fleet, fortifying our service
to Mojave Air & Space Port and Edwards Air Force Base, and pursuing an expansion of our Route 4 and the
addition of service to Plant 42.”
