Delaware Transit Corporation Secures Federal Grant for Major Fleet Rehabilitation

Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) has been awarded a grant for $14.3 million through FTA’s FY2026 Bus and Bus Facilities Program. The program aims to deliver nearly 200 new buses and construct or rehabilitate approximately 11 bus maintenance facilities across the United States. DTC will use its funds to launch a midlife rehabilitation program for 51 buses, representing 23 percent of Delaware’s multi-modal transit system’s fixed-route fleet.

DTC plans to overhaul existing vehicles to bring them to a state of good repair. The strategy to improve the current fleet, as opposed to purchasing new vehicles, is expected to save $7.4 million in future costs. In the long-term, the program will improve fleet reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and maximize DTC’s federal funding. DTC expects to achieve efficiencies by extending the operational life of 40-foot buses from 12 to 18 years and 45-foot buses from 15 to 20 years.

DTC Chief Executive Officer John Sisson stated, “This federal investment allows us to modernize our fleet in a way that is both fiscally responsible and operationally efficient, ensuring our riders have the reliable service they deserve without the heavy burden of total vehicle replacement costs.”