U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky has announced that federal funds have been awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for bus services in Northwest Indiana.

The Gary Public Transportation District will receive $725,000 for operating funds to continue its bus service. The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission will receive just under $1.7 million to purchase three replacement vans and one expansion van. NIRPC’s grant will also be used to renovate a bus station, buy bus support equipment, and support transit enhancements.

“These two grants will help people in Gary and across Northwest Indiana get where they need to go,” Visclosky said in a press release. “Public transportation plays an important role in getting people to work, school, the doctor’s office, and the store, and these investments in our area will make things better for the many people who utilize public transportation.”

The grants were awarded under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. Grant recipients are required to make information available to the public and to allow citizens to comment at public hearings on the proposed projects and the performance of the recipient.

Posted 3/9/2010