FTA tabs $450,000 for Cape Cod transit improvements

Bicyclists on the Cape Cod National Seashore are among those who will benefit from recently announced “Transit in Parks” grants, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said on Monday. In a stop at the park, Rogoff highlighted two U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants totaling $450,000 that will lead to National Seashore transit improvements and a study of future Cape Cod transit needs.

Rogoff was joined by Congressman William Delahunt, officials of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, Cape Cod National Seashore and Cape Cod Commission in touting the success of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program, which funds public transportation within national parks, forests and wildlife refuges.

A grant for $250,000 to Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) will be used to make improvements that will benefit bicyclists, including the purchase of vans equipped with trailers to transport riders and their bikes throughout the park. Separately, a grant for $200,000 to the Cape Cod Commission will be used to update Cape Cod's five-year transit plan and to develop strategies to meet those needs. 

Congress established the Transit in Parks program to help protect national parks and federal lands and to enhance the experience of the millions of visitors to these parks. 

This year, the program received $24.8 million for 46 projects, including grants for new diesel buses at Yosemite National Park, ferry improvements at Florida’s Gulf Island National Seashore, visitor shuttle buses for Mount Rainier National Park and bus stop improvements in Arcadia National Park in Maine. A complete list of projects and their descriptions can be found at Transit in Parks Summaries.

Administered by the FTA in partnership with the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, Transit in Parks funds capital and planning expenses for alternative transportation systems, such as shuttle buses and bicycle trails in national parks and public lands. The goals of the program are to conserve natural, historical and cultural resources, and reduce congestion and pollution.