Jonesboro receives $1.188 million to upgrade its JET bus fleet

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver announced Tuesday (June 27) that the city has received a second round of federal grant funding for low-emission buses for JET (Jonesboro Economical Transportation), the city’s public transit system.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration awarded Jonesboro $1.188 million in 2023 funding as a part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. The grant includes a 15% match by the city, totaling $178,300.

“This will totally update our aging JET fleet,” Copenhaver said. “Ridership continues to increase, so the need for new city buses obviously increases for residents who depend on public transport or those who simply prefer it. I’m grateful to U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, as well as Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, for securing this funding for Jonesboro, and I appreciate our grants department’s diligent efforts to spot and apply for these grants that prevent this funding from going elsewhere.”

The city was awarded $1.033 million – with a $155,000 match – in 2022, and that money has just been released for the city to solicit bids. The additional funds mean the city has funding to purchase a total of 10 new buses, as they become available.

Civic leaders said they expect that these low-emission buses should become available by 2024.