Bredesen Announces Recovery Act Funds to Mid-Cumberland Human Resources Agency

 

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that Mid-Cumberland Human Resources Agency will receive $2.4 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for rural transportation services. The MCHRA provides public transportation for citizens in Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, Wilson and Davidson Counties.  

 

“Many Tennesseans, particularly those with limited mobility, already rely on public transportation for their daily needs and many others would like to see expanded transit options,” said Bredesen. “The Recovery Act funds announced today will help rural transit providers in Tennessee improve service and replace aging fleets with safer, more reliable vehicles.”

 

A total of $17.9 million in Recovery Act funds will be provided to 12 rural transit agencies in Tennessee. 

 

“Public transportation is a key component to attracting new businesses and spurring economic development,” said Congressman Bart Gordon.  “As the economy recovers from this recession, improving public transit in our state’s rural communities will help make these areas more desirable for businesses to set up shop and create new jobs.”

 

Congressman John Tanner stated, "Job creation, continued employment and long-term economic development rely on strong transportation. These investments will help Tennessee communities continue to improve transit infrastructure that helps spur economic recovery."

 

MCHRA plans to use the dollars to replace approximately 24 aging demand response vehicles, 16 ADA compliant minivans, vehicle needs supplies and uniforms, approximately 10 new vehicles for fleet expansion and for GPS units to assist in locating service calls. 

 

“These funds will allow MCHRA to expand service and provide reliable, safe transport options to our rural communities,” added Congressman Jim Cooper. “Increased availability and dependable transit choices will serve customers well in these challenging times.”

 

“Coming from the fourth most rural congressional district in the country I understand the importance of providing rural residents, particularly those with limited economic means and mobility, with accessible and reliable transportation,” said Congressman Lincoln Davis. “These Recovery Act funds will allow Mid-Cumberland Human Resources Agency to improve service by upgrading and expanding an aging fleet and provide thousands of Tennesseans with the mobility to continue being or becoming active members of their community.”

 

Federal Recovery Act Transit funds are administered by TDOT’s Division of Multimodal Transportation Resources. Tennessee received a total of $72 million in Recovery Act transit funds. Of those funds, $42.2 million was directed by the federal government to the state’s four large urban areas, Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville.

 

“Many of the vans and buses in the rural transportation fleets have accumulated hundreds of thousands of miles over the years and have outlasted their useful life,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Replacing these vehicles will allow transit agencies to provide safer, more dependable service to their customers and will generate manufacturing work for the companies providing the vehicles.”

 

For more information on TDOT’s Division of Multimodal Transportation Resources visit www.tn.gov/tdot. For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.recovery.gov. For TDOT specific information on the Recovery Act visit www.tn.gov/tdot/recovery.

 

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