Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $1,370,000 in federal funding was awarded to the Chemung County Transit System through the Department of Transportation State of Good Repair Program. Chemung County Transit System will use this federal grant to purchase eight new clean energy buses and a power generator that can be used in inclement weather and during emergencies.
“Transit systems across the state are making strides toward cleaner, more efficient fleets, and now Chemung County Transit System will be a leader in the region,” said Schumer. “I applaud the DOT for choosing Chemung County and helping its residents and riders secure top of the line buses and prepare for the worst through the purchase of a new generator.”
“This is an important investment for Chemung County,” Senator Gillibrand said. “With bus ridership reaching new highs, an updated fleet of more fuel-efficient buses will help connect more of our workers and businesses, get more cars off the roads to reduce traffic and cut pollution, and help get our economy on the move.”
Specifically, Chemung County Transit System will use these funds to purchase three 40 foot long, heavy duty replacement buses and five 30 foot long, medium duty replacement buses. The new buses will be cleaner burning and pollute 90% less than the current buses. Funding will also be used for the purchase of a power generator for the fleet maintenance facility.
Improving and maintaining America’s buses and bus facilities in good physical condition so that they can successfully accomplish their performance objectives is a key strategic goal of DOT and FTA. As part of the State of Good Repair program, FTA will prioritize the replacement and rehabilitation of intermodal facilities that support the connection of bus service with multiple modes of transportation, including but not limited to: rail, ferry, intercity bus and private transportation providers. In order to be eligible for funding, intermodal facilities must have adjacent connectivity with bus service. In addition, FTA will prioritize funding for the development and implementation of new, or improvement of existing, transit asset management systems. Public transportation asset management means a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, and improving physical assets with a focus on both engineering and economic analysis to identify a structured sequence of maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement actions that will achieve and sustain a desired state of good repair over the lifecycle of the assets at minimum possible cost.