MARSHALL — An area transit program will be receiving grant money to get six new buses with lower emissions.

Last week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that United Community Action Partnerships would get federal dollars to replace six gasoline-fueled transit buses with buses fueled by propane.

UCAP’s project was one of a few in Minnesota that will be receiving funding from the Federal Transportation Administration, MnDOT said. The new buses and infrastructure could be in place within the next one to two years, MnDOT said in a news release.

“Many people in rural areas rely on transit, and these projects will improve service while reducing emissions,” said Sarah Ghandour, director of MnDOT’s Office of Transit and Active Transportation. “We chose these projects based the needs of our local partners, their willingness to participate in the application, and, finally, the extent to which the proposed projects meet the criteria of the competitive grants.”

UCAP provides transit services in Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Jackson and Rock counties.

MnDOT announced it had been awarded a total of $8.5 million in federal grant dollars to help three rural Minnesota transit providers update their vehicles and facilities. One of those providers is UCAP, which will receive Low and No Emission Grant funds to replace six of its Community Transit buses with propane-fueled buses. The project would also build fueling infrastructure for the buses in Marshall.

MnDOT said $2.3 million in grant funding would help cover the cost of propane bus projects for both UCAP and for Friendly Rider Transit, which serves Wadena County. The remaining part of the projects’ estimated $2.8 million total cost would come from state transit funds, MnDOT said in a news release.

The federal Low or No Emissions grant funding is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Last week, both Sen. Tina Smith, who is chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, and Sen Amy Klobuchar issued statements on the grant funding. Transit improvements would help rural Minnesotans in a couple of ways, they said.

“Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” Smith said. “But for many people, especially those in rural areas, safe, reliable public transportation is hard to find. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver faster, safer, and more energy efficient transportation to communities across Southwestern Minnesota.”

“Investments in public transit make it easier for families in rural Minnesota to get to school, work, and other destinations,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will go towards creating the modern, efficient public transit system families in southwestern Minnesota need to reliably get around.”