08-10-07
Contact: Wes Irvin
Telephone: (202) 366-4043
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett today announced $35 million in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief to help meet public transit needs in the Gulf Coast, including $10 million to aid the city of New Orleans in replacing its destroyed bus fleet.
The $35 million in funds will support operating and capital costs for 19 transit agencies in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Florida, announced Deputy Secretary Barrett following a tour of a bus maintenance facility in New Orleans.
“These funds will help restore mobility and offer residents a better way to get around this magnificent city,” said Deputy Secretary Barrett.
In a continuation of support for the recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in December 2006 awarded $16 million in new federal funds to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), including $13.6 million to provide continuity of operations for the city’s bus and trolley public transportation including the St. Charles streetcar.
FTA also awarded $14.4 million in transit grants to RTA for operating assistance. These grants make up a significant part of RTA’s operating budget through the end of December 31, 2007. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, FTA provided $67.5 million to allow RTA and the Capital Area Transit System in Baton Rouge to provide transit services from September 2005 through November 2006. It is estimated that FTA will waive approximately $20 million in local match funds for Katrina recovery costs.
Editor’s Note: A complete list of individual transit agencies that received funding from the $35 million is attached.
Alabama
Mobile Association of Retarded Citizens – Funds will pay for facility and vehicle repairs.
Amount $121,843
Wave Transit Authority - Funds will pay for facility repairs.
Amount $524,221
Florida
Miami Dade Transit - Funds will pay for repairs and replacements.
Amount $475,476
Louisiana
Baton Rouge – Funds will pay for two 35’ buses, three paratransit vans.
Amount $1,500,409
Cameron COA – Funds will pay for fence, van, covered parking for van.
Amount $39,000
Franklin/Washington COA – Funds will pay for van and storage facility.
Amount $61,729
Houma – Funds will pay for the construction of an administrative maintenance facility.
Amount $700,000
Jefferson Parish – Funds will pay for replacement buses and shelters.
Amount $3,587,105
Lafayette – Funds will pay for three additional low-floor buses.
Amount $1,725,000
Monroe - Funds will pay for fence, van and covered parking for van.
Amount $67,278
New Orleans RTA – Funds will pay for support vehicles, fareboxes, generators
and replacement buses.
Amount $10,000,000
Shreveport – Funds will pay for fence, van and covered parking for van.
Amount $7,300
St. Bernard Parish - Funds will pay for nine new buses, fareboxes, and video surveillance equipment.
Amount $2,712,085
St. Tammany PPJ/COA - Funds will pay for fence, van and covered parking for van.
Amount $42,366
Tangipahoa PC/POA – Funds will pay for fence, van and covered parking for van.
Amount $5,000
Terrebonne PPJ/COA - Funds will pay for a van.
Amount $5,882
Mississippi
Coast Transit - Funds will pay for bus replacement and operating expenses.
Amount $12,704,800
Texas
Galveston – Funds will pay for replacement buses.
Amount $500,000
Houston - Funds will pay for satellite phones and transport of vehicles.
Amount $220,506
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