United Community Action Partnership’s Community Transit To Receive Grant Funding

The Federal Transportation Administration recently awarded the Minnesota Department of Transportation $8.5 million dollars through two grants which will help three rural Minnesota transit providers upgrade their vehicle fleets and infrastructure.

The grants come from the federal “Low and No Emissions” and “Bus and Bus Facilities” programs, and the money is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. MnDOT applied for the funding on behalf of three rural transit agencies in Minnesota: United Community Action Partnership Community Transit, Friendly Rider Transit and SMART Transit. MnDOT manages the federal funding of rural Minnesota transit programs.

The Low or No Emissions Grant will help two rural transit providers upgrade their vehicle fleets and infrastructure:

• United Community Action Partnership’s Community Transit will replace six gas-powered buses with six propane-fueled buses. These buses, and propane fueling tank, will be based in Marshall. UCAP provides rural public transit for eight counties in southwest Minnesota (Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Jackson and Rock).
• Friendly Rider Transit will replace three gas- and diesel-powered transit buses with three propane-fueled buses and a propane fueling tank at its Wadena Transit Facility. Friendly Rider serves Wadena County in Central Minnesota.