EVANSVILLE — The city will be able to fund at least eight projects aimed at cleaner public transport thanks to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA announced the grant Thursday afternoon that will give Evansville $20 million through its Community Change Grant from its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. The money will help the city with projects focused on public transit and "physically active" travel, including the creation of mobility hubs around the city where access to multiple types of transport is available in one place.
Work on Evansville projects will begin March 17, 2025, under grant guidelines.
According to EPA press officer Allison Lippert, 105 applications were selected totaling $1.6 billion in grant awards. The grant is a part of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, and this round received around 2,700 applications.
City spokesman Joe Atkinson shared a news release Thursday after the EPA's announcement. He said the work Evansville will do has been developed with Evansville Climate Collaborative, Department of Transportation & Services, the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Evansville Trails Coalition and Tri-State Creation Care.
“This transformative grant from the EPA marks a pivotal step forward for Evansville in building a cleaner, more accessible, and sustainable future,” Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry stated in the news release. “By investing in innovative transportation systems and enhancing mobility across our community, we’re creating opportunities for all residents to thrive while addressing critical environmental challenges."
Projects included in the grant
- • Developing 15 mobility hubs along existing METS routes
- • Expanding the METS Micro Transit program to 16 electric or hybrid vehicles, as well as ADA-accessible vans
- • mproving about four miles of city sidewalks for ADA accessibility, and for walking and biking
- • Adding 62 EV charging stations at city facilities, public destinations and affordable housing units
- • Expanding the city's bikeshare program to include 100 E-bikes. And there will be 1,000 free annual memberships for city residents to have unlimited 30-minute rides
- • Installing solar panels on the METS administration building and bus terminal to lower emissions
- • Starting a communitywide education and outreach campaign to increase use of cleaner transportation options
- • Starting a free annual community event to promote EVs and other low emission vehicles
“This project will provide our residents better access to clean and active transportation options, which will in turn reduce transportation air emissions and improve our air quality,” Lauren Norvell, director of the Evansville Climate Collaborative, is quoted as saying in the news release.