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Rural public transport projects across Upstate New York receive $57.7 million

Posted: 27 June 2018 | | No comments yet

The investment will be used to fund more than 130 projects designed to enhance rural transit services and support upstate economies…

Rural public transport projects across Upstate New York receive $57.7 million

Governor of New York Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $57.7 million in state and federal funding for 136 rural public transportation projects statewide.

The initiative will support rural public transportation operations; help local communities procure new clean-fuel, ADA accessible buses and related equipment; enhance coordination between local transportation agencies through mobility management and employment services; and construct new transit-related infrastructure, including facilities, passenger shelters and technology enhancements.

Governor Cuomo described infrastructure as “the lifeblood of the economy”, explaining that the new investment “will bolster upstate mobility operations and help ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of their location, will have a transportation infrastructure they can rely on.”

“As Chair of the Regional Economic Development Councils, I have seen how New York’s investment in infrastructure has transformed our Upstate economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This latest infusion of funding for new buses and transportation-related projects in communities across the state will go a long way toward modernising transit systems and ensuring all New Yorkers have easy access to public transportation.”

The funding will be administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and supported through grants from the Federal Transit Administration. In all, funds will be awarded to 51 program participants including, 39 municipalities, three transportation authorities, one tribal nation, and eight intercity bus operators serving rural areas throughout the state. Collectively, these services support more than five million passenger trips annually and provide a vital role in the rejuvenation of the state’s upstate towns and villages.

Recipients of the funding will receive $34.3 million for vehicle replacement and infrastructure renewal projects and $23.4 million to support service operations. The new state and federal investments will leverage nearly $85 million in rural transportation improvements across the state.

The capital funds awarded under the initiative will accelerate the deployment of 162 new clean-fuel ADA accessible vehicles, replacing and modernising approximately 19 percent of the total rural transit fleet. In addition, this funding will support vehicle maintenance and storage facility rehabilitation and modernisation; enhanced passenger amenities such as shelters, communication systems and security; and provide mobility management services.