HARRISBURG - Older adults and people with disabilities across Pennsylvania will have increased transportation options when 67 transportation providers receive a $13.2 million investment of federal and state funds, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.
"Access to public transportation is essential to older citizens and people with disabilities, whose quality of life is affected by their ability to travel where and when they need to," Governor Rendell said. "These funds will supply the transportation providers with the equipment and vehicles needed to help individuals maintain independence by improving transportation to work, and to medical appointments."
Of the funding, nearly $10.6 million will go through the Community Transportation Capital Equipment Program, which provides funding for the purchase of transit vehicles and equipment for eligible community transportation providers. Of this program funding, $6.8 million in Capital Budget Act 44 funds is provided through the state Public Transportation Trust Fund. The remainder -$3.8 million-is provided through the federal capital assistance program entitled Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities.
None of the funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
An additional $2.6 million in federal funds will go to 30 private, non-profit human service transportation providers to cover up to 80 percent of purchase costs for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. In contrast to PennDOT's shared-ride program, which is available to the general public, human service transit providers work primarily with specific clients, such as people with cerebral palsy or mental retardation.
###
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is a list of Community Transportation Capital Equipment Program grant recipients, the amount of funding, and a brief description of projects:
Adams County
• Adams County Transit Authority -- $322,505 for three small transit buses, one wheelchair-accessible mini-van, and communication equipment.
Bedford, Fulton and Huntington Counties
• Huntingdon-Bedford-Fulton Area Agency on Agency -- $360,000 for eight small transit buses.
Berks County
• Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority -- $50,000 for transportation software.
Blair County
• Blair Senior Services, Inc. -- $300,000 for six small transit buses.
Bucks County
• Bucks County Transport, Inc. -- $544,000 for eight small transit buses.
Butler County
• Butler County Community Action -- $69,151 for one small transit bus, communication equipment and office equipment.
Centre County
• Centre County -- $234,000 for four small transit buses.
Chester County
• Chester County -- $577,220 for eight small transit buses and transportation software.
Clarion County
• Clarion County -- $373,000 for three wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, three small transit buses, computer hardware and transportation software.
Clinton and Lycoming counties
• Step, Inc. -- $304,647 for one small transit bus, two wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, two raised-roof vans, computer hardware, office equipment and communication equipment.
Columbia County
• Columbia County -- $232,100 for four wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, one raised-roof van, office repairs and communication equipment.
Crawford County
• Crawford County Transportation Authority -- $195,000 for three small transit buses.
Cumberland County
• Cumberland County -- $523,100 for five small transit buses, bus repairs, computer equipment, mobile data computers and computer hardware.
Dauphin County
• Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg Transit Authority -- $420,000 for seven small transit buses.
Delaware County
• Community Transit of Delaware County, Inc. -- $266,114 for three small transit buses and communication equipment.
Erie County
• Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority -- $421,944 for six small transit buses.
Fayette County
• Fayette County -- $66,059 for one small transit bus.
Forest County
• Forest County -- $66,000 for one mid-size wagon and one wheelchair-accessible mini-van.
Franklin County
• Franklin County -- $294,000 for five small transit buses and office equipment.
Greene County
• Greene County -- $309,243 for two wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, four small transit buses and communication equipment.
Juniata and Mifflin counties
• Call-A-Ride Services -- $272,880 for two wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, three small transit buses, computer hardware, and communication equipment.
Lackawanna County
• Lackawanna County Coordinated Transportation -- $211,000 for three small transit buses.
Lancaster County
• Red Rose Transit Authority -- $325,000 for five small transit buses.
Lawrence County
• Allied Coordinated Transportation System -- $220,000 for four small transit buses.
Luzerne and Wyoming counties
• Luzerne-Wyoming County Transportation Department -- $309,800 for five small transit buses and three mini-vans.
Mercer County
• Mercer County -- $307,125 for five small transit buses, communication equipment and computer hardware.
Monroe County
• Monroe County Transit Authority -- $40,000 for two mid-size station wagons.
Montgomery County
• Suburban Transit Network, Inc. -- $480,000 for eight small transit buses.
Montour County
• Montour County -- $284,461 for four wheelchair-accessible mini-vans, computer hardware, facility enhancements and office equipment.
Northumberland County
• Northumberland County -- $181,000 for three small transit buses and computer hardware.
Perry County
• Perry County -- $282,000 for four small transit buses, one mini-van and repair shop equipment.
Pike County
• Pike County -- $183,000 for three small transit buses.
Susquehanna County
• Susquehanna County -- $255,000 for three small transit buses and one wheelchair-accessible mini-van.
Snyder and Union counties
• Union Snyder Transportation Alliance -- $355,000 for five small transit buses.
Washington County
• Washington County -- $350,000 for six small transit buses.
Wayne County
• Wayne County -- $312,140 for three small transit buses, two raised-roof vans and transportation software.
York County
• York County Transportation Authority -- $300,000 for three small transit buses.
Following is a list of private, non-profit organizations receiving Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities grants, the amount of funding, and a brief description of projects:
Allegheny County
• Focus On Renewal Sto-Rox Neighborhood Corp. -- $146,880 for three wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Northern Area Multi-Service Center of Allegheny County -- $284,160 for six wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Passavant Memorial Homes -- $112,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Beaver County
• HAP Enterprises, Inc. -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Bradford County
• Greater Valley EMS -- $36,960 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
• Western Alliance Emergency Services, Inc. -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Bucks County
• Saint Mary Medical Center -- $232,000 for four wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Woods Services Foundation -- $146,080 for three wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Butler County
• Lutheran Senior Life -- $56,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Cambria County
• Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicapped -- $40,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
• United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Alleghenies Region, Inc. -- $80,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Chester County
• Human Services Inc. -- $209,600 for four wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Clearfield County
• Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Inc. -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Delaware County
• Children and Adult Disability and Educational Services -- $96,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Elwyn Inc. -- $72,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Fayette County
• Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh Fayette County -- $160,800 for three wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Lackawanna County
• Allied Services Foundation -- $221,600 for five wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Saint Joseph's Center -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Lancaster County
• Lancaster Emergency Medical Services Association -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Mercer County
• St. Paul Homes -- $48,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Northampton County
• The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Inc. -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
• Visual Impairment and Blindness Services of Northampton County, Inc. -- $46,400 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Philadelphia County
• Pauls Run -- $53,600 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
• Programs Employing People -- $72,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• The Arc of Philadelphia -- $72,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania -- $48,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Schuylkill County
• Avenues -- $96,000 for two wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Susquehanna County
• Montrose Minute Men Inc. -- $36,960 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Washington County
• United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Inc. -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Westmoreland County
• Westmoreland County Blind Association -- $36,000 for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle. |