BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, July 24, 2012 – Bis-Man Transit has received a $519,333 Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair grant. North Dakota Congressman Rick Berg contacted Bis-Man Transit Director Robin Werre on July 23 to share the news.
The focus of the State of Good Repair grant is to provide funds to improve and maintain the physical condition of America’s buses and bus facilities so they can successfully provide public transportation services. FTA received 836 project applications totaling $4 billion in requests.
Bis-Man Transit will replace two paratransit cutaway buses with $192,000 received from the grant and an additional $280,000 will allow Bis-Man Transit to purchase fixed-route dispatch software that will replace outdated methods currently in use. The software will improve safety and overall transit management.
Wide-band radio equipment will be purchased with $8,000 to comply with Federal Communication Commission requirements. In addition, $39,333 will be used to purchase shop equipment to help maintain its vehicle fleet including a bus lift, preventative maintenance panels to protect bus engines, pallet racks for parts and tire storage, and a windshield wash proportioning system to cut costs associated with refilling.
“Since Day One, this [Obama] Administration has been focused on addressing the maintenance backlog of our nation’s transit systems, and this is another down-payment on that effort,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “For millions of Americans, these investments mean that they may more reliably and safely get to work to earn a paycheck or get to daycare to pick up their children on time, or simply have new choices to enjoy the communities in which they live.”
Bis-Man Transit runs both the fixed-route CAT Bus and door-to-door paratransit bus systems for the Bismarck and Mandan communities. Ridership on CAT Bus is at a record high of 73,835 rides for January-June 2012. This is an increase from 62,160 in 2011 at this time and is the highest January-June ridership since service began in 2004.
Bis-Man Transit paratransit service was started in 1990 and the CAT Bus fixed-route service was added in 2004. For more information, visit www.bismantransit.com or call (701) 258-6817.###