MILWAUKEE, WI — The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a $40.9-million grant award to Milwaukee County for the East West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The project will provide faster, more reliable transit service along the region’s busiest travel corridor from downtown Milwaukee to Marquette University and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.

"This $40.9-million federal grant will provide Milwaukee residents increased access to jobs, health care, educational opportunities, and other community services," Chao said.

The Milwaukee County project is a nine-mile BRT line from downtown Milwaukee to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, of which a four-mile segment will operate in exclusive bus lanes. The total cost of the project is $55.1 million with $40.9 million in funding provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program.

"FTA is proud to join our partners in Wisconsin to improve public transportation in Milwaukee," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. "The East West BRT project will provide fast and efficient service, improving mobility and travel times in this busy corridor."

Funding for the East West BRT project is provided through FTA's CIG Program, which provides funding for major transit infrastructure projects nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process.