Mitch McConnell

08/17/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/17/2022 11:16

McConnell Secures More Than $20.1 Million to Fund Kentucky Bus Systems

Press Releases

LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will grant $20,127,704 to four Kentucky transit agencies to fund improvements to their bus transportation programs.

The grants include $7,411,032 to the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) in Louisville, $6,359,880 to the Transit Authority of Lexington-Fayette Urban County (Lextran), $3,265,592 to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on behalf of seven rural transit agencies serving 36 counties, and $3,091,200 to the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK).

All of the transit agencies receiving grants today plan to use a portion of their funding to purchase new buses. Additionally, Lextran plans to use its grant to improve its natural gas fueling infrastructure and make safety improvements to its maintenance facilities.

The funding for today's grants comes from the Low and No Emission and Buses and Bus Facilities programs, which the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Senator McConnell supported last year created and funded. Senator McConnell also wrote letters to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of Lextran and TANK's grant applications.

"Bus transit plays a key role in connecting both urban and rural Kentuckians to jobs and commerce. I supported last year's bipartisan infrastructure bill because I knew that its $6 billion impact on Kentucky would help overhaul not just our bus transit systems, but also our roads, bridges, railroads, airports, and more. Kentuckians all across our state have already seen the effects of this landmark legislation and, with today's grant announcement, even more commuters will have access to safe and reliable bus routes," said Senator McConnell.

"Thanks to Senator McConnell's support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Lextran will be able to replace eight aging diesel buses with low-emissions CNG vehicles. Lextran will become an even more reliable and climate-friendly option for the community," said Lextran General Manager Jill Barnett.

"TANK is so appreciative of Senator McConnell's support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Federal funds like these are critical in driving TANK's mission and allowing us to continue to provide reliable and sustainable public transportation to our community," said TANK Interim General Manager Gina Douthat.

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