Governor Bredesen Awards $3.6 Million for Intercity Transit Grants

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today awarded more than $3.6 million in federal intercity transit grant funds to seven Tennessee transit agencies.  The funds will be used to connect more than 40 cities and counties in Tennessee’s rural communities to fixed route public transportation services. 

 

“Public transportation is a vital part of Tennessee’s transportation network,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “It also plays an important role in the state’s economic health by keeping rural Tennesseans mobile and connected to services and urban centers.”

 

Agencies receiving funding are (click on the link for each agency for more information on their specific grant):

Anchor Trailways	Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency
First Tennessee Human Resources Agency	Treece Industries
Jarmon D & Q Transport	Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency
South Central Development District

The Intercity Bus Demonstration Program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Transportation Resource Division and utilized federal 5311(f) grant funds.  The Section 5311(f) Intercity Bus Program is designed to address the intercity travel needs of residents and people in non-urbanized areas of the state.

 

“These grant funds will provide Tennesseans with transportation to jobs, schools, and community activities,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This program will also help protect the environment by reducing congestion and the number of vehicles on local roads across the state.”

 

The grant funds may be used to purchase buses, vans, radios, wheelchair lifts, computers and other equipment necessary to maintain and transport human services agency clients and the general public in non-urbanized areas.

 

On average, $1.3 million will be available each year for the state of Tennessee to assist with continued expansion of rural transit services. The annual federal allocations are based on the non-urbanized population, the number of vehicles and counties in the service area.

 

For more information on the program, please visit www.tn.gov/tdot/publictrans/section/5311f.htm.