The economic stimulus

Minnesota gets stimulus money for transit projects

by Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that Minnesota will receive $64.3 million for transit improvements.

The following agencies will receive Federal Recovery Act funds:

• The Metropolitan Council will receive $51.3 million to replace 117 buses, including 30 hybrid buses, and purchase three new buses.
• The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Transit will receive $7.4 million to replace 84 buses and five intercity motor coaches.
• MnDOT's Office of Transit in Glencoe will receive $2.5 million for the Trailblazer Transit Facility.
• MnDOT's Office of Transit in Austin will receive $255,000 to remodel the Austin Mower County Area Transit facility.

"By quickly moving federal dollars to the cities and towns across the country, we are putting people back to work now and ensuring that our nation will have reliable and efficient transit system for generations to come," LaHood said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, shipyard, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide.

About 6,000 transportation projects across the country have been approved.