U.S. DOT Invests $6.1 Million for Expanded Bus Service in Rural Washington

Eight rural Washington communities will benefit from expanded bus service thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced today.  The communities will use the grant to purchase new transit vehicles.

“President Bush understands that people living in rural Washington communities are heavily dependent on transit to get where they need to go. It’s a necessity to them,” said Secretary Mineta. “Today’s investment demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to providing these individuals with transportation options that improve the way they live, work and travel.”

Although smaller communities throughout Washington have some type of regular scheduled transit system, many individuals still live in areas too remote to be serviced by these systems.  Bus grants allow transit systems to customize their services to meet the specific needs of rural communities, such as providing rural residents on demand service to get to medical appointments, grocery stores or area community centers.

“Many people in our smaller cities and towns depend on their local transit systems, but communities often need additional resources to upgrade and modernize their transportation systems. This assistance will help keep public transit viable in these areas,” noted Congressman George Nethercutt.

The grant announced today is funded through the FTA’s capital investment program, which provides money for the purchase of buses and the construction of transit facilities.  Funds are allocated on a discretionary basis.

The $1.6 million grant to the Washington State Department of Transportation will be distributed as follows:

• $58,692 to Columbia County for two mini-buses and one transit shelter.
• $273,516 to Mason County Transportation Authority for two buses and two mini-buses.
• $403,436 to Valley Transit in Walla Walla for three buses.
• $392,039 to Clallam Transit in Port Angeles for two buses and four mini-buses.
• $82,055 to Grays Harbor Transportation Authority for two mini-buses.
• $237,047 to Jefferson Transit in Port Townsend for one bus and five mini-buses.
• $50,145 to Pullman Transit for two mini-buses.
• $61,541 to Twin Transit in Centralia for two mini-buses.