[IMAGE]MVTAGilligBRTbusAug272010FULL-2.jpg[/IMAGE] The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) has taken delivery of two 2010 Gillig transit vehicles featuring the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) styling package.  These vehicles will be used on the new Route 475 service that begins Sept. 7 between the Cedar Grove Transit Station in Eagan and the University of Minnesota, as well as on other routes in the corridor.

The buses feature a sleeker, newer-style design, and take advantage of a silver background and the colors in the MVTA logo to clearly identify the vehicle as part of the MVTA fleet. The inside of the bus will also tie to the MVTA colors.

The MVTA was awarded a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant in 2009-2010 to fund these and eight additional vehicles to be delivered in 2011. The vehicles cost just more than $400,000 each. The cost of operating the service will be shared by the Metropolitan Council and the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB). Through the use of a quarter-cent metro sales tax and a $20 motor vehicle sales excise fee, CTIB provides funding to advance transit projects in the Metro Area that will help commuters, residents and businesses move more quickly and efficiently.