The Federal Transit Administration awarded the city of Columbus a $2.3 million grant to upgrade its bus system, known as ColumBUS.
The grant came from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES.
Columbus Public Works Director Brian Burton said the money will help pay for barriers to protect drivers, an air filtration system on each bus, and automated fair boxes.
“With the social distancing, it may require that we have additional buses, so this going to allow us to buy one, if not two large route buses and one para-transit bus,” Burton said.
Burton said the city should know before the end of the year when the new buses will be delivered.
“At some point the ridership will be back, more businesses are going to open up,” Burton said.
The grant money is part of a $25 billion allotment from the U.S. Department of Transportation that has been distributed nationwide.
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