Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Announces More Than $39.5 Million In Stimulus Funds For Transit

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May 18, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that more than $39.5 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act transit stimulus funds will be released to 20 public transportation projects across the state.

“Public transit is a vital component of our transportation system,” Governor Rendell said. “This stimulus funding will complement the state’s nearly $1.2 billion base transit investment, helping with facility improvements as well as equipment purchases. Nearly 430 million passengers used our transit system last year. I am pleased that we can improve the service provided to current and future transit users.”

Pennsylvania expects to receive approximately $347 million in federal transit stimulus funds, with the majority being distributed directly from the Federal Transit Administration, or FTA, to urban transit authorities. Of the $39.5 million announced today, PennDOT is distributing $30.2 million for rural and intercity bus projects over the next few months as the projects receive FTA approval. The other $9.3 million investment is to refurbish and improve the Elizabethtown station in Lancaster County as part of the Keystone Corridor, from Harrisburg to Philadelphia.

The project list was developed with extensive input from transit agencies and Rural and Metropolitan Planning Organizations across the state.

The list of transit providers receiving stimulus funds is available at: www.recovery.pa.gov or on the PennDOT homepage at www.dot.state.pa.us.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is a list of transit stimulus funding recipients, the amount of funding, and a brief description of projects:

Rural Transit funding

Armstrong County
• Mid-County Transit Authority -- $310,277 for garage equipment and to replace four small transit buses.

Beaver County
• Beaver County Transit Authority -- $387,500 to replace five small transit buses.

Butler County
• Butler Transit Authority -- $5.3 million for the construction of a multi-modal transportation center.

Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga counties
• Endless Mountains Transportation Authority -- $576,000 to pave a parking lot and replace seven small transit buses.

Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties
• Area Transportation Authority -- $500,000 for bus stop signs and shelters.

Carbon County
• Carbon County -- $283,000 for scheduling software and to replace four small transit buses.

Indiana County
• Indiana County Transit Authority -- $1 million for bus overhauls including engine and body work, and to replace two small transit buses and two compressed natural gas buses.

Lawrence County
• New Castle Area Transit Authority -- $6.4 million for facility improvements, Park and Ride facility expansion, and to replace three large transit buses and two medium transit buses.

Monroe County
• Monroe County Transit Authority -- $436,410 for security cameras, an Automatic Vehicle Location system, and to replace three small transit buses.

Northumberland County
• Mount Carmel Borough -- $86,966 to replace one small transit bus.

Schuylkill County
• Schuylkill Transportation System -- $4.7 million for an intermodal facility project in Pottsville and to replace four small transit buses.

Venango County
• Venango County -- $200,000 to replace one medium transit bus.

Warren County
• Warren County Transit Authority -- $2 million for intermodal center facility enhancements, maintenance facility improvements, and to replace two small transit buses.

Washington County
• Washington County -- $280,415 for five small transit buses.

Westmoreland County
• Westmoreland County Transit Authority -- $2.9 million for maintenance facility work and to replace four medium transit buses.

Intercity Bus funding

Clearfield County
• Fullington Tours -- $400,000 to assist with the purchase of one over-the-road bus, which includes amenities necessary for long-distance travel.

Luzerne County
• City of Hazleton -- $631,377 toward construction of the Hazleton Intermodal Center.

Lycoming County
• City of Williamsport -- $2.5 million toward construction of the Church Street Travel and Information Center.

Schuylkill County
• Schuylkill Transportation System -- $1 million for the Pottsville intermodal facility project.

Intercity Passenger Rail funding

Lancaster County
• Elizabethtown Train Station -- $9.3 million for station rehabilitation.

Source: Pennsylvania Governor