Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The money will provide Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility upgrades, reconstruction of the ticket counter, installation of a passenger Information Display System and platform repairs.

Construction on the project is expected to begin as early as July 6, 2010, and will continue over the next 28 months. The expanded service is expected to increase ridership, improve connectivity and balance passenger flow.

Together, departments will award up to $75 million in funding — $35 million in TIGER II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sustainable Community Challenge Grants — for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.

The contract, awarded in September, is part of the Motor Coach Component Life Cycle Project, which allocates a total of $16 million in ARRA funding to directly improve vehicle availability, service reliability and performance by rehabilitating 35 standard (40-foot) and 27 articulated (60-foot) Muni buses.

Funds will go toward high-speed rail service between Tampa and Orlando, Fla., San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., Milwaukee and Madison, Wis., and rail service in New York and New Mexico.

Will be used to buy transit vehicles, perform preventive maintenance on vehicles at transit agencies around the state and for the construction of a new transit facility in the city of Spearfish.

FTA chief made the remarks during a transit conference in Boston. He also asked attendees to make an honest assessment about the state of their current transit system when making financial decisions including system maintenance and system expansion.

The nonprofit advocacy organization is dedicated to creating and sustaining a clean and energy-efficient advanced national high-speed rail system in the U.S.

Alliance president, Eric C. Peterson, noted the important role Europe's high-speed rail service played in helping to reduce the full impact of aviation disruptions brought on by volcanic ash in the atmosphere.

Applications and proposals for these funds are due by May 19, with selection announcements made during summer 2010.