TxDOT awards $63 million in transportation grants

Vast majority to rural areas

Matt Dietrichson, Aug 10, 12.

The Texas Transportation Commission voted to award nearly $63 million in grants to support public transportation in every county with about 86% going to rural and small providers and 12% going to urban areas, according to Recovery For Texas:

In addition to these grants, the Commission also awarded 2.9 million transportation development credits (TDC). Transportation Development Credits, also known as toll credits, are federal government credits given to states when states use their own money for investment in toll projects. The credits can be used to offset other transportation expenditures, such as assistance with the local match of federal funds for capital projects. The grants and TDC fund preventative maintenance, service and facility expansions, job access and training programs and the purchase of new vehicles and facilities.

Specific funding awards:

- $28.7 million for rural and small urban public transportation providers.
- $15 million and 1.1 million TDC to provide transit service to individuals for job training and work, improve access to existing public transportation services for the disabled, and enhance intercity service connections between cities and rural areas in numerous Texas communities.
- $4.8 million of federal funds and 434,258 TDC to support transit projects aimed at serving elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities.
- $7.4 million in federal funding to address growing demand for more service in rural areas by assisting transit agencies with both operating and capital expenses.
- $100,000 for a project that will assist in providing job related transportation in the Galveston County area.
- About $6.9 million in federal planning funds and 1.4 million of TDC match were allocated statewide to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) for public transportation planning that will improve transit service in urban areas.