AUSTIN - Rural Texas residents will find it easier to get to the doctor, work, and the store, through funds made available to transit providers by the Texas Transportation Commission at its March meeting.

"This award recognizes the efforts of rural transit districts in encouraging Congress and the President to provide more federal funds for transit," said Eric Gleason, TxDOT's director of public transportation.

The funds may be used to reimburse transit providers for both operating and capital expenditures associated with the public transportation services.

The goals of the Rural Public Transportation Grant Program are to enhance the access of people in non-urbanized areas to health care, shopping, education, employment, public services, and recreation.

Currently, 39 operators provide transportation in rural areas and cities with populations less than 50,000 throughout Texas.
Texas' rural transit programs are growing, providing 4.5 million passenger trips during the 2005 fiscal year, an increase of over 3 percent from the prior year. More than 7,000 transit vehicles, buses, and vans operate in Texas.

The Texas rural transportation program is one of the largest in the nation.

See attached list for funds disbursement.