FAST moving forward with new grant and plan approval

(Fayetteville, N.C.) - August is a month of progress for the Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST). Fayetteville is one of 150 recipients selected for a Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) grant announced this week. The $280,500 award will help FAST replace gasoline light-transit vehicles.

The grant will benefit FASTTrac! passengers who are certified to use FAST ADA paratransit services. The award will cover costs to purchase three new propane-powered light transit vehicles. The vehicles will be ordered no later than fall 2022. FAST staff submitted the grant application for the FTA Low or No Emission program in May 2022.

"FAST's paratransit ridership is up approximately 14% from this time last year," FAST Director Tyffany Neal said. "We provided more than 55,000 passenger trips on FASTTrac! within the past fiscal year. This grant will help us replace aging vehicles, save on maintenance costs and hopefully improve air quality. All of our FASTTrac! vehicles are FTA funded. Thanks to our local, state and federal representatives who advocate for America's Can Do City as we aim to eventually transition to an entire low-to-no emission fleet."

The federal grant award, part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is just one good news item for FAST this month. On August 8, Fayetteville City Council members approved an update to the Transit Development Plan for the years 2023-2032. Next week, FAST staff will provide an administrative report on microtransit options to City Council.

FAST is also reporting success with the Fayetteville Technical Community College CDL-B Training program. The program is a partnership to recruit transit drivers. Students receive a Class B Commercial Driver's License upon completion. Four students completed the program in July 2022 and are now employed by the City as FAST Transit Operators. Three students are currently enrolled in the 200-hour training program, with FAST covering the tuition costs for the students. Graduates of the program who work two years for FAST do not have to repay those costs.

This month, Neal began her new role as FAST Director taking the reins from former Director Randy Hume. Among her priorities are hiring and staff retention making the FTCC partnership and infrastructure improvements critical. She acknowledges the hard work of FAST employees who remain dedicated to their jobs despite the pandemic's challenges and is eager to continue supporting them in her new role leading Fayetteville's Transit. "Because of the commitment and dedication of our employees, we have been able to keep our community moving. I look forward to the future of FAST as we move towards a transit system of choice," Neal said.

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