METRO Receives $2.9 Million Grant From FTA State Of Good Repair Program

October 4, 2010

The Federal Transit Administration announced today that METRO will receive $2.9 million as part of the FTA’s State of Good Repair program, a new initiative to help address repair and maintenance backlogs in the nation’s transit systems.

METRO will use the funds to make repairs to its Kashmere and Hiram Clarke Bus Operating Facilities and will be providing $728,000 in local match money for the project.

“We’re pleased that our partners at the FTA included us in this program. It demonstrates the FTA’s continued confidence in the NEW METRO, and underscores the importance of properly maintaining our bus and rail infrastructure,” said METRO Board Chairman Gilbert A. Garcia, CFA.

The FTA estimates it will cost $77.7 billion to bring the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into a state of good repair. In addition, a yearly average of $14.4 billion would be required to maintain the systems.

In April, FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff announced the FTA would accept competitive proposals for $776 million in funds through the State of Good Repair program. The FTA received approximately 400 project applications and more than $4.2 billion in requests for the $776 million.

“The FTA’s concern for keeping transit systems in good working order is mirrored in one of the seven principles of the NEW METRO’s FY 2011 budget,” said METRO President & CEO George Greanias. “We call it sustainability. It’s not enough to simply put programs and people in place, you have to support them. This money will help us maintain two of our oldest garages.”