Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today announced that South Dakota will receive $6,642,706 in federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding will be used to improve facilities and purchase transit vehicles across the state. This funding is in addition to $1,255,528 awarded to Rapid City for city transit projects.
“Improving our transportation infrastructure contributes significantly to the success and quality of our rural communities,” said Johnson. “This funding will allow people to travel more easily to receive medical services, visit family, and commute to jobs. Our state’s ability to connect one another depends on these funds, and I’m proud to continue working to move our cities and towns forward.”
The funding will be used to construct 8 small bus barns in the towns of Pierre, Aberdeen, Flandreau, Spearfish, Vermillion, Eureka, Huron and Mitchell. Additionally, they will obtain 34 vehicles for various agencies around the state including intercity bus service vehicles.
FTA provides funding to all fifty states for a variety of transit programs targeted toward improving and enhancing the capacity of transit systems that serve small, rural communities, as well as the elderly and disabled.
Resources from the stimulus package are continuing to help local communities across South Dakota. Funding has already been distributed to local housing commissions, to cities and towns to continue the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, weatherization and local health services. Additional resources from the legislation will continue to be distributed in the weeks and months ahead.
The stimulus package signed by President Obama focused on tax cuts for the middle class, infrastructure investments and job creation. This funding is a prime example of the kind of resources the legislation provides to help improve communities while advancing South Dakota’s economy.
###
For more information on Senator Tim Johnson visit his website at http://johnson.senate.gov.
To contact Senator Johnson’s communications office via e-mail, write his Communications Director at Julianne_Fisher@Johnson.Senate.gov.
