Congressman Kurt Schrader today announced $589,300 awarded to Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) State of Good Repair Initiative. With the reward, SAMTD will replace paratransit buses that have met or exceeded their useful life with updated vehicles to better serve the paratransit customers in the community.

"At a time when gas prices remain stubbornly high, the federal government and our private partners are committed to easing the burden on working families and providing our local communities with safe, reliable transportation alternatives," Schrader said. "These kind of infrastructure investments not only help underserved Oregonians get to where they need to go, but ensure complete communities."

"We greatly appreciate Congressman Schrader's support of our successful grant request to replace ten paratransit buses for our CherryLift program.  These buses serve our disabled community and help connect them to school, work, shopping centers and other activities in our region.  The funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration will allow us to meet the growing demand for CherryLift and provide more efficient service to our valued customers.  The support from our Congressional delegation and the FTA is greatly appreciated and will improve the quality of life for thousands in our community."Allan Pollock, General Manager/CEO of Salem Area Mass Transit District

CherryLift is an origin-to-destination transportation service for people whose disability prevents them from using the fixed route transit system. The program is provided to meet the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA), a civil rights law that requires complementary public transportation service be available to individuals with disabilities. SAMTD provided 106,282 ADA dial-a-ride trips during the fiscal year 2010-11.

Also through the State of Good Repair Initiative, the Oregon Department of Transit, on behalf of the City of Woodburn, was awarded $44,400 to construct six passenger shelters in rural Woodburn. They will be placed at key locations that are heavily used by many transit-dependent populations. 

The FTA State of Good Repair Initiative aims to improve and maintain America's buses and bus facilities in good physical condition so that they can successfully accomplish their performance objectives. Subject to the availability of funds, FTA will make available approximately $650 million to improve the condition of transit capital assets by providing financial assistance for recapitalization of buses and bus facilities. As part of the program, FTA will prioritize the replacement and rehabilitation of intermodal facilities that support the connection of bus service with multiple modes of transportation, including but not limited to: rail, ferry, intercity bus and private transportation providers. In order to be eligible for funding, intermodal facilities must have adjacent connectivity with bus service.