June 26, 2009
Transit grants will create jobs, improve public transportation systems
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that six Michigan communities will receive more than $14 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to upgrade and support public transportation systems. The Federal Transit Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, allocates the Recovery Act grants to urban communities for vehicle replacement, facilities renovation and construction, and preventive maintenance and to improve accessibility.
"Efficient, affordable transportation is a vital service for thriving cities," said Granholm. "These much-needed dollars will not only improve public transportation, they'll provide a real boost to Michigan's economy."
The six Michigan communities receiving grants include:
- Bay City: Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $1,279,109 to purchase two diesel-fueled replacement buses and four lift-equipped diesel-fueled replacement vans and make facility upgrades.
- Flint: Flint Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) will receive $7,985,000 for communications and security equipment to provide enhanced local emergency response and for preventive maintenance.
- Holland: Macatawa Area Express will receive $1,609,413 to purchase four replacement diesel buses and two replacement gasoline buses.
- Jackson: Jackson Transit Authority will receive $1,463,808 to purchase four diesel replacement vehicles and renovate facility parking lots.
- Niles: City of Niles will receive $ 410,402 to rehabilitate the Niles Dial-A-Ride office and garage.
- Port Huron: Blue Water Area Transportation Commission will receive $1,383,824 for installation of a compressed natural gas (CNG) station to fuel the city's fleet of CNG vehicles.
Robert J. Foy, general manager of the Flint MTA, reports that nearly $8 million in Recovery Act funding will create up to 100 jobs within the next 120 days - both at the MTA and in the private sector - for fleet maintenance and upgrades as well as installation and implementation of efficient, up-to-date digital communications technology.
"The money provided by the Recovery Act will have a very positive impact on Flint and Genesee County, allowing us to operate much more efficiently, and that's important in times when dollars are hard to come by," said Foy. "The Recovery Act money we will invest in maintaining and upgrading our vehicles will increase their lifespan from 13 years to approximately 25 years."
The Recovery Act, signed into law in February by President Barack Obama, is an aggressive economic stimulus plan designed to jumpstart the economy, create jobs, and help Americans provide for their families. For Michigan, the Recovery Act represents an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild the state's economy and put Michigan citizens back to work.
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