U.S. DOT: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announces $27.4 million in federal recovery act funds to pay for transit improvements in Wisconsin

Contact: Paul Griffo

Tel.: (202) 366-4064

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $27.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for transit improvements in Wisconsin.

“The Recovery Act was put in place quickly to rescue the economy from the worst recession since the Great Depression and rebuild it for a stronger future,” said Secretary LaHood. “Rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure is a key part of that prescription for strength. It creates jobs today and builds a better, more sustainable economy moving forward.”

The following grants are being awarded:

* Milwaukee County Transit: $25.6 million to purchase 45 40-foot buses, a vehicle annunciator/passenger information system, spare bus parts, and computer hardware.

* City of Wausau: $1.8 million to purchase five 35-foot buses.

Since President Obama signed ARRA into law on Feb. 17, 2009, grants totaling more than $5.7 billion have been made available for transit improvements throughout the nation.

“These funds are creating jobs now while investing in the future of our transit systems,” said Administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). “The public’s demand for transit service continues to grow, and these dollars will help meet that need.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, transit, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide. Of that, $25 billion already has been obligated to fund more than 7,701 approved projects in 55 U.S. States and Territories.