Pierre, S.D.-based River Cities Transit received approximately $5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) to modernize and expand one of its transit facilities.

The upgraded facility includes space to service and maintain nearly 100 buses and other transit vehicles in the agency’s fleet. It also includes a new dispatch center with upgraded computer scheduling and GPS technology to better monitor and track vehicles to keep them on schedule.

The U.S. DOT provided approximately $5 million for facility improvements and new transit vehicles from several discretionary grant programs, including $1.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; $1.6 million from the Federal Transportation Administration’s (FTA) FY2011 and FY2012 State of Good Repair Program; and $1.7 million from FTA’s 2009 Bus and Bus Facilities Program. River Cities Public Transit also received $369,300 through FTA’s Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative to improve transit scheduling and outreach to transit-dependent veterans.

“As more people turn to transit to get where they need to go, it becomes even more important to keep our transit systems in good, safe condition,” said Administrator Rogoff. “Because transit is a lifeline for many seniors, veterans and tribal residents living in Pierre, Hughes County and the surrounding region, it’s vitally important to keep the buses they depend on efficient, reliable and in good working order.”

The improved River Cities Transit Facility supports public transportation service within a 100-mile radius for people living in 11 counties in central South Dakota, including seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and the Cheyenne River Sioux and Lower Brule Sioux tribes.