U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $18.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for transit improvements in Florida.
“The Recovery Act was put in place quickly to rescue the economy from the worst recession since the Great Depression and rebuild it for a stronger future,” said Secretary LaHood. “Rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure is a key part of that prescription for strength. It creates jobs today and builds a better, more sustainable economy moving forward.”
“By quickly moving federal dollars to the cities and towns across the country, we are ensuring that our nation will have reliable and efficient transit systems for generations to come,” he added.
Grants are being awarded as follows:
* Jacksonville Transportation Authority: $36,559 for guideway improvements.
*Volusia Transportation Authority: $8.4 million for the purchase of 17 hybrid buses and for the rehabilitation of facilities to reduce energy consumption and to implement cost saving measures.
* Miami-Dade Transit Agency: $2.8 million for the refurbishment of Bicentennial Park Metromover Station, the installation of a Wi-Fi demonstration project to help support eventual implementation of a Wi-Fi system on the entire Metrorail, and miscellaneous refurbishment of Metrorail track.
* Escambia County Board of Commissioners: $4 million for the purchase of 10 buses and three minibuses.
* Collier county Board of County Commissioners: $3 million to purchase two electric hybrid buses and to provide enhancement to transit technology, paratransit services, and facility security.
Since President Obama signed ARRA into law on Feb. 17, 2009, grants totaling more than $4 billion have been made available for transit improvements throughout the nation.
“These funds are creating jobs now while investing in the future of our transit systems,” said Administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). “The public’s demand for transit service continues to grow, and these dollars will help meet that need.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, transit, bridge, and airport construction and repairs nationwide. Of that, $22.5 billion already has been obligated to fund more than 6,832 approved projects in 55 U.S. states and territories.
