Nation’s Top Transit Official Visits Vermont, New Hampshire Bi-State Region to Break Ground on Recovery Act Project

       Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was in Wilder, Vermont today to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation and expansion of Advance Transit’s Bus Maintenance/Administrative Facility. The facility will be built with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) as well as funds from other sources.

        “This project will create jobs in the Upper Valley Region now, while providing the community with a state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly facility,” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff.  “This is precisely what President Obama intended for the Recovery Act… putting people to work immediately on projects that improve the quality of life for the entire community.”

        When complete, the facility will serve as a model for others, being constructed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - Silver facility. The new facility will increase system efficiency and help reduce the Upper Valley’s carbon footprint.

        The project includes the expansion of the bus storage facility for Advance Transit’s fleet of 30 buses and American with Disabilities Act vans, expanded maintenance areas, and rehabilitation of the existing administrative offices.  The project will include several energy enhancements such as solar collectors, rainwater re-use, and energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Advance Transit has provided public transit service to the Bi-State Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire for over 25 years. Ridership for the last twelve months reached a new record of 841,880.

        Advance Transit has received $3.3 million in federal transit funds for the project, including an ARRA grant of $1.5 million.

        Funds were applied for and are made available through the Federal Transit Administration assistance programs.  FTA has awarded or has pending award 661 transit grants totaling $7.27 billion since President Obama signed the bill into law on February 17, 2009.  In total, ARRA includes $8.4 billion for capital transit improvements and operations.