The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced on July 20 that 47 communities throughout the country are getting a boost in funding to improve public transportation options.
FTA's Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program provides support to state and local governments, transit agencies, and nonprofit organizations to create better transit for residents with limited transportation options.
"Across the country, people who live in low-income rural, urban, and Tribal communities are less likely to own a car and more likely to rely on public transit," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Through this program, we are bringing affordable, accessible public transit to the very communities that need it the most, making it possible for more people to access jobs, resources, and opportunity."
Funding from the AoPP program can be used to initiate transit service, improve service, and modernize fleets.
"Transit is the great equalizer, providing rides for those who do not have a car or cannot drive, and particularly in rural and Tribal areas, having access to an affordable, reliable bus ride can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity," said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. "FTA's Areas of Persistent Poverty Program is about forging connections for people who need accessible transit the most."
The grants are awarded for studies to improve transit in Census-defined low-income areas. The program also supports coordinated human service transportation planning to improve mobility and access or provide new services, including paratransit.
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Source: USDOT
