The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — The city will receive more than $1.5 million for its transit system, thanks to a round of federal stimulus grants announced by Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Friday.

The award will allow the City of Anderson Transit System to replace one 30-foot diesel bus, two gas vans and three support vehicles and will provide operating assistance to CATS.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded 191 new transit projects in 42 states and Puerto Rico, using more than $600 million. Friday was the Federal Transit Administration’s deadline to award all of its ARRA transit dollars, according to a press release from Biden’s office.

Since President Barack Obama signed the ARRA in February 2009, the FTA has awarded 881 grants totaling $7.5 billion. So far, ARRA funds have supported the purchase of nearly 12,000 buses, vans and rail vehicles, the construction or renovation of more than 850 transit facilities and the performance of more than $620 million in preventive maintenance orders.

Indiana communities receiving new round of transit stimulus awards.

-- City of Columbus/Columbus Transit: $888,815 for construction of transfer facility

-- Gary Public Transit Corporation: $725,000 for operating assistance

-- Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission: $216,000 for centralized scheduling and dispatching center

-- City of Anderson: $1,550,513 for replacement of one 30-foot diesel bus, two gas vans and three support vehicles and operating assistance

-- City of Kokomo: $1,089,206 for transit operations control center, two buses and operating assistance

-- Indiana Department of Transportation: $7,644,142 for construction and renovation of administration/maintenance facilities

-- Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission: $1,669,770 for three replacement vans, one expansion van, renovation of bus station, miscellaneous bus support equipment and transit enhancements

-- State total: $13,783,446