LAVTA Awarded $63.95 Million Federal Grant

Funding for new operations and maintenance facilities, new buses

The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) is proud to announce its award of a $63.95 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission (“Low-No”) Grant Program. This critical funding will construct a new agency campus on Atlantis Court in Livermore, California, including modern operations, administration and maintenance facilities, and support the replacement of 8 aging buses with modern, low-emission vehicles to be built in Livermore. The infrastructure upgrades will improve service reliability, reduce emissions, and allow for expansion of transit service throughout Tri-Valley communities.
 
FTA’s Low-No and Bus and Bus Facility programs aim to modernize local transit systems nationwide and were augmented by Congress in 2021 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. FTA’s 2025 Program awarded more than $2 billion to 167 projects across 47 states and territories. LAVTA’s award is the largest Low-No award in the state of California, and the fourth largest award in the United States, recognizing strong alignment of LAVTA’s project with federal priorities to modernize the nation’s infrastructure, reduce emissions, and improve access to transportation for local communities. The full list of Low-No award recipients for California can be found here.
 
“This grant award is tremendous for the agency. I’m proud to support LAVTA’s efforts to build out the Atlantis Campus with modern facilities and new hybrid buses so that we can connect the Tri-Valley for the next 40 years” said LAVTA Board Chair Julie Testa. “It’s a historic moment, a new chapter in public transit for Tri-Valley residents and all who work in and visit our amazing communities.”
 
The award constitutes approximately 75 percent of total cost of the full project. The design for the project was completed in 2020 through a grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission; Other funding partners include the Alameda County Transportation Commission and the State of California. 
 
In addition to safety and efficiency benefits, the new facility will allow for fleet expansion as the current LAVTA maintenance yard built in 1991 has been operating at 50 percent beyond its design capacity for over 20 years. With over half of its buses reaching retirement over the next 5 years, construction of the new facility will support the latest innovations and new technology to best serve a modern fleet of safe, reliable, high-efficiency vehicles.
The purchase of 8 low-emission diesel-electric hybrid replacement buses supports Livermore’s local bus manufacturer, Gillig LLC, and ensures the fixed-route fleet’s continued state of good repair. The new hybrid buses will replace older buses that have reached the end of their useful life and are expected to significantly improve service reliability by reducing maintenance downtime and service calls.
 
“This critical investment completes the funding plan for Atlantis,” said Christy Wegener, LAVTA Executive Director.  “This project will create good-paying local jobs, ensure Wheels can expand services to meet the growing needs of the Tri-Valley community, and ensure access to safe and efficient transit. I am so grateful to my amazing staff who pulled this application together, to our Congressional delegation for their support of our application, as well as to the FTA for their recognition of our efforts to improve the nation’s transit infrastructure. Now it’s time to get moving!”
 
For more information on Wheels and its services, visit www.wheelsbus.com or contact customer service at 925-455-7500. Keep up to date with rider alerts, schedule changes, and agency news by following us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
 
About the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority
 
The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) was created in 1985 by the cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Alameda County. In addition to passenger fares, the agency is supported financially by federal, state and local agencies, including Alameda County Transportation Commission Measures B and BB. LAVTA supports sustainability by reducing vehicle trips, traffic congestion and improving air quality.

LAVTA Atlantis Facility Renderings
Photography available upon request.