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Rahall Announces $18M for Public Transit 

3/5/2009 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), today announced the availability of $18,675,475 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to repair and rebuild West Virginia’s public transit infrastructure.

 

“Transit spells success for citizen and commerce alike in many communities in West Virginia and, helps make safe transportation more possible,” said Rahall. “These funds will be put to excellent use investing in public transportation and putting people back to work.”

 

“We certainly appreciate the support that the economic stimulus package received from our Congressman Nick Rahall.  The funds for mass transit will be put to work quickly throughout the state of West Virginia as we catch up with long needed improvements to our equipment and facilities.  That translates to better service for our transit customers.  Here at TTA, the major portion of the funds will enable us to expand our fuel storage capacity from seven days to one month.  In the event of another interruption in fuel supplies as we had with Hurricane Katrina, there will be greater protection for the services needed by Cabell County residents.  TTA buses and Dial-A-Ride will continue to operate longer.  TTA also serves as the fuel supplier for Cabell County's first responders - EMS and Sheriff's Deputies.  This investment has wide reaching benefit for the Huntington area,” said Vickie Shaffer, CEO Tri-State Transit Authority

 

These funds include $10,051,239 for the Rural Transit Formula Grant Program which provides transit system grants for rural areas; $8,314,897 for the Urban Transit Formula Grant Program, which provides transit system grants to urban areas and $309,339 for fixed guideway modernizations.

 

“This bill will see that public transit systems in southern West Virginia are ready and able to get people to work by putting people back to work,” said Rahall.

Rachael Berkey