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Commission Awards Public Transportation Funding

AUSTIN - State transportation officials recently approved close to $43 million in funding to support public transportation in Texas.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the awards at its May meeting yesterday. The money will go to fund transportation operating and capital projects; public transportation planning; development; and research for small urban and rural transit agencies, intercity bus operators, numerous other transit systems and Metropolitan Planning Organizations across the state.

In four separate minute orders:

• Commission action approved more than $40 million in federal grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 2.8 million in transportation development credits (TDC), and state match dollars for the state of Texas.
• Of that amount, $7.6 million of rural federal funds will assist transit agencies as they continue to deal with increases in operating expenses and the growing demand for more service.
• About $6.8 million of planning federal funds and 1.4 million of TDC match was allocated to statewide Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) for public transportation planning that will improve transit service in urban areas.
• Included was $5.1 million of federal funds and 549,180 of TDC for transit projects aimed at serving elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
• $20.4 million and 875,594 of TDC for various transit programs that will provide transit service to individuals for job training and work, improve access to existing public transportation services for the disabled, and enhance intercity service connections between cities and rural areas.

In a continuing commitment to assist transit agencies as they struggle to obtain required local match funds for federal awards, the Commission took special note in the award of TDC as an innovative financing option for those areas with limited to no local resources.

Every county in Texas will benefit from this money, said Eric Gleason, TxDOT Public Transportation Division director.

"The money will be used throughout the state to improve transit services that bring people to jobs, medical centers, shopping malls and other locations,” he noted. “It’s all about assuring that the public has easy and efficient access to services in their area."

For more information contact Government & Public Affairs media relations at (512) 463-8588.

The Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining nearly 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its 15,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state's transportation assets. Find out more at www.txdot.gov.