COLUMBUS, Ohio — Aimed at increasing the use of alternative fuels to connect Ohio’s cities and decreasing the operational costs facing Ohio’s transit agencies, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is making an historic $15 million direct investment to purchase 41 environmentally friendly, clean-fuel buses for eleven local and regional transit authorities across the state.

“Never before has ODOT made this type of direct investment in our state’s transit agencies to bolster our commitment to promoting travel choice and cleaning the air we breathe,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “In our larger cities, many of our transit partners are already making these environmentally friendlier investments. ODOT’s efforts will further leverage these investments — both in our urban and rural regions — to create a safer, greener, more multi-modal transportation system.”

ODOT’s $15 million Clean and Green Transit Program was part of the 2010-2011 State Transportation Budget approved by the Ohio Legislature and signed by Governor Strickland last Spring.

The agency received nearly $33 million in applications from local and regional transit authorities across the state. With the $15 million dollars in state funding appropriated under the Clean and Green Transit Program, 41 clean-fuel vehicles will be awarded to eleven local and regional transit authorities.

The largest investment will be made in the Toledo area. ODOT will partner with the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority to purchase eight new 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses.

Investments are also being made in Ohio’s rural transit systems, including eight light transit vehicles and smaller buses.

Receiving new environmentally friendlier buses under this ODOT program will be:

• Akron Regional Transit Authority ($2 million) - 4 hybrid electric/diesel 40 ft. buses

• Central Ohio Transit Authority ($1.2 million) - 2 hybrid electric/diesel 40 ft. buses

• Clermont Transportation Connection ($750,000) - 2 diesel 40 ft. buses

• Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority ($2.3 million) -4 hybrid electric/diesel 40 ft. buses

• Miami County Public Transit ($150,000) - 2 diesel light transit vehicles

• Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority ($375,000) - 5 diesel light transit vehicles

• Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority ($1.9 million) - 3 hybrid electric/diesel 40 ft. buses

• Springfield City Area Transit ($684,320) - 4 hybrid electric/diesel 30 ft. buses

• Stark Area Regional Transit Authority ($2.3 million) - 6 biodiesel 30-35 ft. buses

• Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority ($3.3 million) - 8 biodiesel 30-35 ft. buses

• Washington County/CABL ($75,000) - 1 diesel 30 ft. bus

In Ohio’s cities, public transit reduces congestion, improves air quality, and drives economic activity. According to an ODOT analysis, sixty percent of urban transit trips are work related. In Ohio’s rural areas — where more than half of the riders are senior citizens or people with disabilities — public transit provides access to health care, education and opportunity, according to an agency statement.