Tara Martin, Director of Communiations for the Westchester County Board of Legislators has a co-release from US Rep. Nita Lowey and US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand) which should be of great interests to New Rochelle residents:
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County officials announced today that the County will receive $11.3 million from the federal government to help pay for the operation of the BeeLine Bus System. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide the money to the County through the Urbanized Area Formula Grant program that makes federal funds available to help pay for public transit operations, capital projects, and transporation planning in urban areas like Westchester County. Under the terms of the grant agreement, the County will be reimbursed by the FTA for 80% of eligible bus system expenses. Acceptance of the $11.3 million grant was approved during today’s meeting of the Westchester County Board of Acquisition and Contract.
“I thank Senator Gillibrand, US Representative Nita Lowey and all of the members of the Hudson Valley congressional delegation for their continuing commitment towards ensuring resources for Westchester’s residents,” said County Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “This grant allocation of over $11.3 million dollars from the federal government will ensure that essential transportation related functions will continue to be carried out within the County, without using County tax levy dollars.” Chairman Jenkins said that through the County’s Department of Transportation and FTA Urbanized Area Formula Funding program, funds are used for capital investments in bus and replacement, overhaul and rebuilding of buses, along with the construction of maintenance and passenger facilities. The program provides 80% of the overall cost with the remaining 20% provided by the County as the local match.
“Thousands of residents ride BeeLine buses each day to get to work, school, the doctor’s office, shopping and to visit family and friends. It’s an excellent system with a fleet of modern buses that costs millions of dollars to run. These federal funds will help cover the necessary expense of preventative maintenance of the fleet, a cost that otherwise would be paid by county taxpayers,” said Legislator William J. Ryan (D-White Plains), Chairman of the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks, Labor & Transportation. “We continually work with our federal government representatives for more federal funding to help the county provide vital services to residents and hold down the property tax levy in the county budget.”
“This is a great investment for Westchester County,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will help give Westchester commuters better access to public transportation, get more cars off the road, cut emissions and protect our environment, while helping to rebuild our economy. I will continue working to make sure New York gets its fair share from the federal government.”
“I am thrilled Westchester County will receive this federal funding, which will help provide reliable transportation options for residents and decrease traffic congestion,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey. “In these difficult economic times, I am particularly pleased federal funding will ease the burden of Westchester County taxpayers.”