"This grant is going to make a big difference for Santa Cruz County residents," said Reps. Lofgren and Panetta. "We
both proudly voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, precisely
because it boosted grant funding for programs like this. With this
announcement, we're going to get newer, cleaner buses that are going to
save money for Santa Cruz Metro. In Congress, we'll continue
corresponding with the Department of Transportation and advocating for
funds that improve transit for Californians."
"This
grant is a tremendous win for our community. With these funds, METRO
will replace six aging paratransit vehicles and expand our fleet with
two additional vehicles, ensuring that more residents who rely on
paratransit have access to safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly
transportation," said METRO Board Chair, Rebecca Downing. "The
new vehicles will reduce operating costs, improve service quality, and
help us meet growing demand across Santa Cruz County. We are deeply
grateful to Congresswoman Lofgren and Congressman Panetta for their
steadfast support and advocacy for public transit. Their commitment to
investing in cleaner, more accessible transportation makes a real
difference in the lives of the people we serve."
New
vehicles will operate throughout the Santa Cruz County public transit
network, serving eligible customers who are unable to use fixed route
buses for some or all of their mass transportation trips. The new buses
will significantly reduce METRO's operating costs due to lower
maintenance costs and anticipated lower fuel costs compared to older
buses.
The grant was made possible by the Federal Transit Administration's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Reps. Lofgren and Panetta both supported, provides nearly $2 billion over five years to help transit agencies replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and facilities.
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