Iowa Transportation Commission approves public transit infrastructure grant program funding

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved $1.5 million in funding to support four public transit projects. The projects are funded under the state Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program for new or improved facilities to support public transit services.

Made available each year by the Iowa General Assembly, a transit system can apply to have up to 80 percent of their project funded through this program. To qualify, a transit system must secure local funding for a minimum of 20 percent of the project costs.

These four projects were approved by the commission:

• $238,434 for a new automated bus wash for the Siouxland Regional Transit System in Sioux City 
• $581,566 to rehabilitate the shop area in the maintenance facility for CyRide-Ames.
• $200,000 to replace insulation and vapor barrier for the transit facility storage and maintenance area for the North Iowa Area Council of Governments in Mason City)
• $480,000 for renovation of existing facility – Phase I for the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in Mount Pleasant.

“The Public Transit Infrastructure Grant is an impactful source of funding for public transit systems. This program enables transit systems to construct and maintain facilities that are critical to the operation of their system and maintenance of the vehicles. This year, we received seven project applications requesting $5,653,600,” said Rebecca Law, transit programs administrator, Public Transit Section, Modal Transportation Bureau for the Iowa Department of Transportation.