Berkshire Transit Getting $1.5M in Stimulus Funds
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The county's main bus line will use the money to buy new vehicles, for certain enhancements and preventative maintenance.
The Berkshires is one of four regions splitting $28,081,932 from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The federal funding will allow four regional transit authorities to make new purchases and enhancements and maintain existing equipment.
The Bay State funding was announced Wednesday by U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy.
"Thousands of commuters throughout Massachusetts rely on public transportation for everything from getting their groceries to getting to work. This investment will save jobs and reduce pollution while making travel safer and more efficient for thousands of commuters across our state," said Kerry.
The local transit authority is currently exploring how to better accommodate the county's changing demographic patterns and had hoped stimulus funding would come through for new vehicles.
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority serves 23 cities and towns of the 32 in Berkshire County. The total funding amount is $1,454,391.
The bulk of the $28 million — $16,259,453 — will go the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to replace 47 transit vehicles, for energy and customer service enhancements and improvements to bus facilities. It serves 24 communities within the Pioneer Valley.
Also receiving funding is the Brockton Area Transit Authority ($3,853,088) and the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (6,515,000).
"At a time when city and state budgets are stretched to their limits, these funds could not come at a better time for residents across the commonwealth," said Kennedy. "From the Pioneer Valley to the SouthCoast, these investments will make a real difference for commuters and residents in our communities."
