Tyler Transit awarded $776,000 grant

Grant was awarded to enhance transit services for the citizens of Tyler.

The City of Tyler Transit Department announced that they have been awarded a $776,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant to enhance transit services for the citizens of Tyler. The funds will be used for the following projects:

Purchase of five new transit vehicles; Additional transit shelters and accessibility enhancements to existing shelters; Security fencing and lighting for parking lots near transit offices; Drainage and site improvement to transit offices located in the historic depot building; and, the purchase and installation of security cameras on all fixed route vehicles.

“This grant is very welcome; we certainly appreciate the assistance of our U.S. elected officials representing Tyler in Washington,” said City of Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The buses that will be purchased with this funding will have enhanced safety features and wheelchair ramps to facilitate access. Also, this will allow the City to have a more standardized fleet and minimize maintenance costs.”

Each of the buses that will be purchased has a kneeling feature which lowers the bus for customer boarding in addition to improved air conditioning systems, bicycle racks and signage. The buses will have dedicated space for wheelchair placement and tie down systems to ensure that wheelchair customers are safe during transit. Additionally, the engine compartment and design of the mechanical systems allow for more efficient maintenance.

“With the addition of the new buses this grant will fund, we will be able to have all new buses on our routes while still having two out of service to allow for rotation for routine maintenance,” commented Transit Director Davis Dickson. “This will be much more cost effective in terms of standardization for maintenance and repairs.”

The funding will also be used for new bus shelters. The shelters will be located at locations throughout the City on the most heavily utilized routes and be accessible for customers with disabilities.

To date, the Transit Department has received a total of $1,744,631 in stimulus funding.

Source: City of Tyler