Congressman Tim Ryan Announces $2.6 Million USDOT Grant

Washington DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) announces that the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) will receive a $2,668,750 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The grant will fund the construction of an indoor storage facility aimed at improving working conditions and vehicle maintenance. The current facility does not have the capacity to store the vehicles.

“Ohioans depend on the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority to get where they need to go every day. This grant will go a long way in improving the operations in Portage,” said Congressman Ryan. “It’s important that we continue to invest in our transportation services, and I’m proud that Portage Transportation Authority secured this grant.”

“PARTA is deeply grateful for the award of funds to support a bus storage facility, a project on PARTA’s master plan since 2009.   Indoor vehicle storage is an important element for extending the useful life of fleet vehicles given the weather conditions in Northeast Ohio.  In addition, the new storage facility will enhance and protect the FTA’s investment in new CNG transit buses beginning in 2018. Safe, reliable transit service depends on many factors, and FTA’s investment PARTA and Portage County will improve working conditions for employees and service for our riders,” said PARTA Manager Claudia Amrhein.

The purpose of the grant, from the FTA’s Bus and Bus Infrastructure Program, is to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities.

Information regarding this award can be found here.