US DOT makes $7.6 billion available for transit improvements
Written by jrood
The U.S. Department of Transportation made $7.6 billion available in annual funding for states, local communities and transit agencies nationwide to help maintain bus and transit rail operations and provide for capital construction and maintenance projects.
"The Obama Administration is connecting people with the places they
need to go and providing them with energy efficient alternatives," said
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "These critical dollars will
help smaller cities and rural communities that rely heavily on federal
investments to keep their transit systems running."
The funds were
announced in the Federal Transit Administration’s annual "apportionment
notice." Each year the FTA publishes one or more apportionment notices
that show how the Congressional dollars for transit is distributed among
urbanized and non-urbanized areas throughout the country.
"By
providing the critical support that our public transportation systems
need, we can offer Americans real, efficient transit choices rather than
being held captive by the unpredictable price at the pump," said FTA
Administrator Peter Rogoff. "We’re committed to providing the resources
our communities need to deliver affordable, safe, and reliable
transportation options that will also help families keep more of their
hard-earned cash."
Transit providers, including state and local
governments and transit agencies, apply for these annual funds in the
form of federal grants for infrastructure projects, such as the
construction or repair of transit buildings-including bus and rail
stations and track repair-or the purchase, rebuilding or refurbishing of
transit vehicles.
