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Ithaca, NY - As part of the effort to upgrade the county's transportation system, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that Tompkins County Area Transit (TCAT) has been awarded a $689,073 federal grant to purchase a new hybrid bus, construct a new bus stop on Cayuga Street, and renovate the existing bus stop on Seneca Street in Ithaca. Hinchey used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to secure the funds in legislation.
"The transit system in Tompkins County just got cleaner, greener, and more accommodating thanks to this federal grant," Hinchey said. "Investing in another hybrid bus will benefit residents by having a more environmentally-friendly vehicle on the road, which uses less gas and thus should help keep costs down. New and improved bus stops on Cayuga and Seneca Streets will make the overall transit experience more comfortable for residents, who will be better served with easy access to bus scheduling information."
Hinchey secured $242,945 as part of the Fiscal Year 2005 budget for the purchase of a new hybrid bus for TCAT. A combined $388,350 from the Fiscal Year 2004 budget and an additional $57,778 from the Fiscal Year 2002 budget make up the remainder of the grant, with those funds going towards the construction and renovation of the Cayuga and Seneca Street bus stops. While these funds were secured through legislation over a several year span, the U.S. Department of Transportation is now administering all of the funds simultaneously. Hinchey also previously helped secure federal funds for two other hybrid buses, which along with the new bus will comprise a fleet of three hybrids. All of the buses are currently on order.
"TCAT is extremely appreciative Congressman Hinchey’s help with securing these grant monies," TCAT General Manager Joe Turcotte said. TCAT will use these monies to purchase a hybrid bus as well as constructing major improvements to one of our busiest bus stops. The hybrid bus will be new technology to TCAT and will operate much quieter and utilize less fuel. The bus stop improvements will better serve our passengers as well as improve the streetscape on Seneca Street."
Hinchey said, "This federal grant also spares local taxpayers from the expense associated with a new hybrid bus and new and improved bus stops. That's $689,073 saved locally and that's before the savings are factored in from the use of a hybrid vehicle. This is a very nice and useful federal grant for Tompkins County."
The congressman also noted how the new hybrid bus is an example of ways in which communities across New York and the United States can and must move in a new direction on energy policy. Hinchey is the co-author of the Energy for Our Future Act, which is a sweeping, bipartisan energy reform bill. The measure repeals the billions of dollars in subsidies for oil and gas industries given away in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, encourages innovative mass transit solutions, increases conservation and weatherization, requires renewable energy portfolios and increases the corporate fuel economy standard to 40 miles per gallon.
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