WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman John L. Mica (R-7th District) today announced that Northeast Florida will receive $1.5 million in federal funds to support public transit needs in the region. The federal assistance is included in a budget measure approved by the House of Representatives today.

“This federal assistance is important for citizens who rely on public transportation in Northeast Florida,” said Rep. Mica. “Northeast Florida residents pay a significant amount of taxes to Washington, and it’s only fair that some of these funds be returned to support some of our projects that benefit the public.”

Putnam County’s Ride Solutions will receive a $750,000 grant to purchase new buses. With Rep. Mica’s assistance, Putnam County was provided federal support for public transportation for the first time in 2003. Including the new funds, the federal government has allocated about $3.5 million for the Palatka transit agency over the past three years.

$500,000 will also be provided for new buses for the St. Johns County Council on Aging. Working with St. Johns County and Congressman Mica, this community transportation provider based in St. Augustine recently became eligible to receive federal transit funds and is now working to modernize its bus fleet and to build a new administrative facility. The additional federal funds bring to a total of $1.8 million that the Council on Aging has received since 2003.

Finally, Congress approved an additional $300,000 for Flagler County’s bus and bus facility needs. The County is upgrading its fleet for community transportation services and to construct a larger bus administrative facility that will be located adjacent next to the new School Board bus garage and fuel depot in Bunnell. Flagler has received nearly $1.1 million in federal assistance in the past three years.

Today’s action is part of Congress’s work to complete the appropriations bills that provide the operating budgets for the agencies and departments of the Federal Government. Today the House passed the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation-Treasury-HUD Appropriations bill, which includes the transportation funding, by a vote of 392-31. The measure is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President in the near future.

Additional information is also available on transportation assistance that Rep. Mica has worked to secure for the Seventh District.