FTA 14-05
Contact: Paul Griffo
Friday, March 04, 2005
Tel.: (202) 366-4043

Chatham, Georgia to Improve Bus Service with $2.7 Million Grant from U.S. Department of Transportation

Improved bus service is on the way for Chatham Area Transit Service (CATS) passengers thanks to a $2.7 million grant announced today by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.

Money from the grant will fund the purchase of new buses, bus shelters, safety equipment and improvements to the CATS administration and maintenance facility. Seven of the 64 buses in the CATS fleet will be replaced, including four 30-foot buses and three 35-foot buses. New shelters will be added at more stops along the 18 bus routes serving Chatham.

“We are committed to providing Chatham residents a safe, reliable and enjoyable commute,” said Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. “Not only does that involve funding for new buses, safety equipment and bus shelters, but it also involves ensuring that the people who work at CATS have the up-to-date administrative and maintenance facilities they need to do their jobs.”

The safety equipment purchases under the grant include automated vehicle locators that will allow immediate location of vehicles in the event of an emergency, and an integrated intelligent transportation system that will allow management and customers see where vehicles are along their routes.

The grant funding for the facility improvements will be put toward renovating the administrative offices to improve layout, and providing pavement and lighting upgrades to the bus maintenance parking lot.

The funds announced today are part of FTA’s capital investment program that provides financial assistance for transit agencies to purchase new vehicles and construct new facilities.


-END-