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Area public transportation gets boost

Victoria Transit, rural systems

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  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published July 15, 2008 at 11:48 p.m., updated July 15, 2008 at 11:48 p.m.

Public transportation systems in Victoria and the neighboring counties got a recent boost with grants from the Texas Department of Transportation.

“These state funds are vital for us to be able to continue to serve our eight county region,” said Lisa Cortinas, director of transportation services for the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission.

The commission operates rural transit systems in Victoria, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Calhoun, Lavaca, Jackson, and Matagorda counties. The rural systems received $535,499 in state grant funds.

The Victoria Transit System, which the commission also operates in conjunction with the city of Victoria, received $238,496 in state funds.

“Fares only make up about 5 or 6 percent of our budget, so these state funds are critical in helping us match federal grant funds that keep the systems running,” Cortinas said.

Statewide, transportation officials approved awards totaling $36.4 million to support public transportation in small urban and rural areas of the state.

“This substantial funding will sustain transit costs for: capital and operating expenses for small urban and non-urbanized public transportation systems; assistance with higher than anticipated increases in fuel costs and other increases in rural expenses; enhancement of inter-city bus service in Texas; and the continuation of regional coordinated public transportation planning,” said Eric Gleason, TxDOT’s director of public transportation, in an agency news release.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the funding at its June meeting.

Sonny Long is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at 361-580-6585, by e-mail at slong@vicad.com, or comment on this story at VictoriaAdvocate.com.



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