Iowa approves $1.5 million for six transit projects

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The Iowa Transportation Commission recently approved $1.5 million through the state Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Fund to fund six public transit projects statewide.

The fund, made available annually by the Iowa General Assembly, provides grants for new or improved facilities that support public transit services. A transit system must secure local funding for a minimum of 20 percent of the project costs to qualify and can apply to have up to 80 percent of their project funded through this program.

“The Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Program is an essential source of funding for urgent facility needs of Iowa’s public transit agencies,” Sree Mitra, Iowa Department of Transportation Modal Transportation Bureau transit program manager, said. “This program enables transit systems to construct, renovate, and maintain facilities that are critical to the safe and efficient operation of the systems and maintenance of transit vehicles.”

Grants awarded were $32,000 for the Sioux City Transit’s sliding door replacement project, Sioux City; $105,356 for Cedar Rapids Transit’s bus storage and administrative facility project, Cedar Rapids; $158,640 for MIDAS Regional Transit’s office building rehabilitation project, Fort Dodge; $331,548 for CyRide’s new heating and air conditioning system, Ames; $400,000 for SEIBUS’ vehicle storage facility project, Burlington; and $472,456 for Corridor Rides’ bus storage and administrative facility updates, Washington County.