The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) this week announced $85.7 million in grant awards to four transit providers in Indiana as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 27, 2020.
- The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) will receive $73.3 million for transit operating assistance and the replacement of ticket vending machines.
- The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission will receive $6.4 million for transit operations, maintenance and capital costs in Lake and Porter Counties.
- The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), which serves Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties, will receive $3.3 million to support the Interurban Trolley fixed-route bus and Interurban Trolley Access paratransit service.
- The City of Kokomo in Howard County will receive $2.7 million to support fixed-route bus and paratransit service during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The FTA has apportioned totals to each area. (This funding is based on the agency’s current request and may not represent the full amount the agency will receive.)
“This historic $25 billion in grant funding will ensure our nation’s public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who continue to depend on them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.
“These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”
In addition to the CARES Act funding, FTA issued a Safety Advisory that prompts transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, physical separation, and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance.
CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs.
