U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $27.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for transit improvements in Florida.
“The Recovery Act was put in place to quickly 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.”
Grants are being awarded as follows:
- The Sarasota County Transportation Authority: $4.6 million to purchase two hybrid buses, ITS equipment, and to fund a transfer facility.
- Lake County Board of County Commissioners: $180,067 for operating assistance;
- Lakeland Area Mass Transit District: $3.9 million to purchase one 35-foot bus, bus shelters, operating assistance, miscellaneous bus equipment and construct a rehabilitation facility.
- The Jacksonville Transportation Authority: $9.3 million to purchase nine low-floor 40-foot buses; transit enhancement; facility improvements; bus shelter enhancements; rehabilitation/renovation of administrative and maintenance buildings; cooling systems for buses; park-and-ride lots; bus shelters and miscellaneous support equipment.
- Florida Department of Transportation: $3.1 million for purchase and installation of a metal structure to provide cover for vehicles; intercity bus terminal building and operating assistance;
- Martin County Board of County Commissioners: $1.2 million to purchase an administrative building and intermodal hub;
- Miami-Dade Transit Agency: $5.3 million to purchase three 30-foot shuttle buses; two 30-foot minibuses; three 30-foot minibuses for circulator bus routes; bus shelters and operating assistance.
The grants are among 881 totaling $7.5 billion the Federal Transit Administration has awarded since President Obama signed the Recovery Act in February 2009. So far, Recovery Act funds have supported the purchase of nearly 12,000 buses, vans and rail vehicles, the construction or renovation of more than 850 transit facilities, and the performance of more than $620 million in preventive maintenance, which has helped to save transit service and jobs, and enhance service reliability.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is making $48.1 billion available for highway and bridge, rail transit, small shipyards and airport construction and repairs nationwide. Of that, $36.8 billion already has been awarded and will support 13,700 projects in 55 U.S. states and territories.
