Source: United States Senator for Missouri Roy Blunt
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, commended the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement that $4.1 million in FY2021 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program funds have been awarded to the Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District. The grant funding was included in the Blunt-backed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“Maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient bus system in the St. Louis area is essential for people to get where they need to go — whether it’s work, a doctor’s appointment, or the grocery store,” said Blunt. “It’s also an important factor in deciding where to start or grow a business. Investing in critical transportation needs, as this targeted grant funding does, will help create more economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for local families.”
“Everyone in St. Louis deserves access to reliable, healthy, and safe public transportation,” said U.S. Representative Cori Bush (Mo.). “When I worked in child care, I would begin my bus journey at 6AM to arrive at work by 9 AM. I wasn’t alone — we know that Black workers are 3-times more likely to not own a car and depend on public transit. By investing in comprehensive public transportation, we can connect our communities, cut down on traffic, and tackle the climate crisis — all at once. I’m thrilled to see St. Louis receive this funding, and look forward to riding one of the new buses as soon as they hit our roads.”
The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, or to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants.