JTA TO GET MORE STIMULUS FUNDS

TRANSIT PROJECTS IN MICHIGAN WILL GET MORE THAN 34-MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN 30-MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY 12 BUSES AND THREE VANS, RENOVATE AND IMPROVE FACILITIES, PURCHASE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND MODIFY BUSES WITH MINI-HYBRID COMPONENTS. AS A RESULT THE JACKSON TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $740,000 DOLLARS WHICH WILL BE USED FOR TWO NEW BUSSES. THIS IS THE THIRD INSTALLMENT OF STIMULUS FUNDS FOR JTA. PREVIOUSLY THEY HAD RECEIVED TWO INSTALLMENTS. COMBINED THEY TOTALED ABOUT $1.7 MILLION WHICH JTA USED TO PURCHASE SIX VEHICLES, AMONG OTHER THINGS. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO BUSSES THIS LATEST ROUND OF FUNDING WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTERIZED DISPATCH SYSTEM AND OPERATING ASSISTANCE. THE GRANTS ARE AMONG 881 TOTALING SEVEN-POINT-FIVE (B) BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL RECOVERY ACT FUNDS AWARDED SINCE FEBRUARY 2009.