State applies for federal transit grants

KEARNEY -- Several public transportation projects in Southwest Nebraska will receive federal stimulus money if Nebraska's application for nearly $5.3 million in transit projects in rural areas is approved by the Federal Transit Administration.

Gov. Dave Heineman announced the application Wednesday in Kearney.

The first round of projects submitted for federal approval includes $1,678,500 in grant funding for rural providers for transit vehicles, as well as computers and software for enhanced billing and dispatch operations.

Some of these providers would include: Chase, Tri Valley Health Systems covering Furnas County; Stratton Industrial Commission covering Hayes and Hitchcock Counties and the City of McCook.

Heritage Senior Center Director Sue Chipman said although she did not know at this time how much the city might receive, she had applied for stimulus funds this past year to purchase a handicapped-accessible van.

"This is a great opportunity for public transit in McCook, that will not cost the city anything," she said.

The center currently already has a handicapped-accessible bus.

The ARRA package allocated more than $9.8 million for public transit projects in Nebraska's rural areas, as part of $23 million in funding for projects that help local transit authorities acquire, construct and improve mass transportation options. The remaining $13 million in ARRA funding for mass transit projects will be distributed among Lincoln, Omaha and South Sioux City.

A second round of rural area projects will be sent to FTA once federal environmental reviews have been completed and received by the Nebraska Department of Roads. State officials expect to submit potential projects totaling more than $10 million to help ensure enough projects are approved to use all of the available funds in the next year.