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Federal Recovery Act Funds for Santa Cruz Transit Improvements

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The Obama Administration announced that five grants totaling $9.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds are being released for transit improvements in California.

"Through the Recovery Act, we are creating jobs today in California and across America while building a better, more sustainable economy moving forward," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  "Rebuilding the nation's transportation infrastructure is a key part of a prescription for economic strength."

The following grants are being awarded:

• City of Montebello: $4 million for the purchase of a CNG fueling station/underground fuel tank modifications, a customer information system, and facility improvements.
• Municipal Transportation Agency. County of San Francisco: $4.5 million for preventative maintenance.
  
  
• Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District: $125,000 for the purchase of three paratransit replacement vans at University of Southern California, Santa Cruz.
  
  
• Napa County Transportation Planning Agency: $157,658 for preventative maintenance.
  
  
• City of Santa Rosa: $312,865 for the purchase of one hybrid low-floor replacement bus.

Since President Obama signed ARRA into law on Feb. 17, 2009, grants totaling more than $7.2 billion have been made available for transit improvements throughout the nation. 

"These funds are creating jobs now while improving the quality and availability of transit service in the future," said Administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  "The public's demand for transit options continues to grow, and these dollars will help meet that need."

The U.S. Department of Transportation is making $48.1 billion available for highway, road, transit, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide.  Of that, $26.5 billion already has been obligated to fund more than 8,500 approved projects in 55 U.S. States and Territories.