in the National Transit Database (NTD) shows overall employee numbers fell about two percent between 2019 and 2020, but when the data is isolated to vehicle operation employees, the count dropped 3.5 percent. Despite ongoing ridership and labor challenges, the transit industry - particularly the bus segment - has several bright spots. The impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its potential to speed the industry's transition to loweremission and zero-emission fleets, reduce State of Good Repair backlogs and promote transit as a transport mode worthy of federal investment cannot be overstated. On April 1, one of San Francisco's most anticipated transit projects began service with the opening of bus rapid transit (BRT) on Van Ness Ave. The project is the city's first BRT and it is expected to deliver travel times that are 32 percent faster for San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Golden Gate Transit customers. In addition to the Van Ness BRT service, there are eight more bus rapid transit projects expected to open in 2022 including Milwaukee County Transit System's East West BRT; TriMet's Division Transit Project; Metro Transit D Line in Minneapolis and Birmingham Xpress BRT, which the Alabama city hopes to have in service prior to the World Games 2022 commencing in the city in July. BRT projects that have started construction since the summer of 2021 include Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation's 15.2-mile Purple Line BRT; Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area's 10-mile Mill Plain BRT; and Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works' 20-mile South Corridor Rapid Transit Project, which is one of six rapid transit corridors being built in the county. 4.10% Administrative Buildings 7.37% Stations 5.85% Guideway 5.83% Other 7.51% Communication & Information Systems 2.10% Fare Collection Equipment 1.33% Other Vehicles Source: NTD Capital Expenses 13.54% Maintenance Facilities Capital expenses of U.S. bus fleets 52.37% Passenger Vehicles 7.31% Reduced Reporter Expenses 0.58% Purchased Transportation Reported Separately 18.6% General Administration 4% Facility Maintenance Operating expenses of U.S. bus fleets 16.08% Vehicle Maintenance Source: NTD Operating Expenses and Energy Use APRIL/MAY 2022 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 25 53.41% Vehicle Operationshttp://www.MassTransitmag.com