FTA 20-04                                                                 
Contact:  Melissa Sabatine, Tel.:  (202) 366-4043
     Email: Melissa.Sabatine@fta.dot.gov
Tuesday, July 06, 2004                                                     

U.S. DOT Invests $4.35 Million for Expanded Bus Service and Transit Enhancements in Communities Throughout Iowa

Residents throughout Iowa will benefit from improved bus service thanks to a $4.35 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced today.

“Today’s investment means more options for Iowa’s commuters,” said Secretary Mineta.  “President Bush understands that connecting workers to jobs better connects communities to the rapidly expanding economy.”

The largest of the 24 individual grants included in the award to the Iowa Department of Transportation is a $1,046,720 grant to CyRide in Ames for the purchase of four 40’ buses, a diesel van, and a vehicle security system retrofit on 10 buses.  The buses will replace ones that were built in the 1960’s.  The new vehicles will be fuel efficient, have cleaner emissions, and amenities such as air conditioning and power steering.   CyRide has the highest ridership of all the transit systems in Iowa, due in large part to Iowa State University students who use the system. 

The grants announced today are funded through the FTA’s transit capital investment program, which provides capital assistance for new and replacement buses and facilities.  Funds are available for the purchase of buses, maintenance and administrative facilities, passenger amenities such as passenger shelters and bus stop signs, and accessory and miscellaneous equipment such as mobile radio units, fareboxes, computers, and garage equipment.  Funds are allocated on a discretionary basis.

The attached fact sheet details the remaining 23 individual grants announced in today’s $4,350,540 award to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Iowa Department of Transportation Grant Fact Sheet

·        A $742,250 grant to Five Seasons Transportation and Parking in Cedar Rapids for five remanufactured 35’ buses and a new sump pump for underground fuel tanks;

·        A $504,000 grant to the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority in Des Moines for security gates, a paint booth exhaust system, security renovations of the main entrance, facility security updates, and a roof for the storage building;

·        A $456,500 grant to the Waterloo Metropolitan Transit Authority in Waterloo for two 35’ buses;

·        A $323,250 grant to the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (Region 13) for seven vans;

·        A $200,890 grant to the Western Iowa Transit System (Region 12) for four vans and two minivans;

·        A $195,880 grant to Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority (Region 8) for five vans;

·        A $114,770 grant to the Mid-Iowa Development Association (Region 5) for four vans;

·        A $91,300 grant to Keyline Transit in Dubuque for two vans;

·        A $87,980 grant to East Central Iowa Transit (Region 10) for four vans;

·        A $66,400 grant to Northeast Iowa Community Action Transit (Region 1) for two minivans;

·        A $56,440 grant to Mason City Transit in Mason City for two diesel vans;

·        A $52,290 grant to Burlington Urban Service in Burlington for one van;

·        A $48,970 grant to River Bend Transit, Inc. (Region 9) for one van;

·        A $48,970 grant to the 10-15 Regional Transit Agency (Region 15) for two diesel vans; and

·        A $48,970 grant to the Southeast Iowa Transit Authority (Region 16) for two vans.

·        A $48,000 grant to Coralville Transit in Coralville for energy retrofitting of the maintenance facility;

·        A $47,310 grant to the North Iowa Regional Transit System (Region 2) for six diesel vans;

·        A $45,650 grant to the Area XIV Agency on Aging/Southern Iowa Trolley (Region 14) for two vans;

·        A $44,000 grant to Sioux City Transit in Sioux City for maintenance facility security provisions and security cameras;

·        A $40,000 grant to the Regional Transit Authority (Region 3) for security technology;

·        A $16,000 grant to Dodger Area Rapid Transit in Ft. Dodge for safety/security/surveillance equipment;

·        A $12,000 grant to Ottumwa Transit Authority in Ottumwa for bus maintenance facility improvements;

·        A $12,000 grant to Siouxland Regional Transit System (Region 4) for security cameras;

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