Iowa DOT News

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 11, 2011 – Today, the Iowa Transportation Commission (Commission) approved more than $2.7 million in funding to support 29 public transit projects. The projects are funded under the state Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Fund and federal Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC), New Freedom, and Intercity Bus Assistance programs.

Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Fund
The Public Transit Infrastructure Grant Fund provides state funding assistance to Iowa’s public transit systems for new or improved facilities to support their public transit services. The 2010 Iowa General Assembly appropriated $2 million for FY 2011. This is the second round of applications for the FY 2011 transit program. The first round was approved July 13, 2010. The five projects approved by the Commission will allow construction/improvement of facilities at three transit systems. The projects involve:

• Phase 1 of a transfer facility for the transit system, The Jule, operated by the city of Dubuque.
• Locker/washroom renovations, wash rack rehabilitation, and storm and sanitary sewer work at Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART).
• Construction of a vehicle storage facility at the Region 13 Southwest Iowa Transit Agency, based in Atlantic.

Job Access and Reverse Commute
The JARC program is a federal program to help support transit services designed to assist low-income persons in accessing jobs, training opportunities and day care services. By the program’s rules, transit agencies in communities with a population of more than 200,000 select their own projects and projects in less populous areas are selected by the Commission. The Commission approved a total of $93,113 to fund five projects submitted by the four transit systems listed below.

• The Jule, operated by the city of Dubuque
• Sioux City Transit System
• North Iowa Area Council of Governments/Region 2 Transit,  based in Mason City
• Southwest Iowa Planning Council/Southwest Iowa Transit Agency, based in Atlantic

New Freedom
The New Freedom federal formula grant program seeks to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Transit agencies in larger communities select their own projects and the Commission is responsible for selecting projects in smaller communities. Based on the applications received, the Commission approved $266,321 to provide funding for four projects submitted by the following two transit systems.

• Sioux City Transit System
• Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission/SEIBUS, based in Burlington

Intercity Bus Assistance Program
Also today, projects for four transit providers were approved for more than $1.8 million under the calendar year 2011 Intercity Bus Assistance Program. The Commission approved the funds for 15 projects submitted by the following four entities.

• Ames Transit Agency/CyRide
• Burlington Trailways
• City of Fort Dodge (DART)
• Jefferson Lines

A listing of the individual projects and funding amounts is available on the Iowa Department of Transportation’s website http://www.iowadot.gov/transit/.

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For additional information, contact:  Pam Lee at [email protected] or 515-239-1872.