LaHood, Davis applaud federal grant awarded to home-state bus company

U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rodney Davis (R-IL), who both sought federal funding for their home-state’s primary provider of mass transportation in McLean County, Ill., recently acknowledged the success of their efforts.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in September awarded a $6 million grant to Normal, Ill.-based Connect Transit, which has used the funds to invest in 10 new buses equipped with advanced technology.

“Strategic infrastructure investment is critical to ensuring our transportation system is reliable, efficient and safe for our community, and that is exactly what this grant award will do for the Bloomington-Normal community,” Rep. LaHood said on Oct. 26.

Last week, he and Rep. Davis joined FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams and Connect Transit General Manager Isaac Thorne to recognize FTA’s award, which it authorized under the FTA’s fiscal year 2018 Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Grant Program, to Connect Transit.

The lawmakers said the grant ensures stellar service is maintained by Connect Transit, which operates a 15-route system that includes Illinois State University.

“The new buses acquired by Connect Transit from this grant have allowed Connect to provide exceptional and affordable service for years to come,” said Rep. LaHood, who added that he “will continue to lend my support for projects that support infrastructure improvements in our community.”

Rep. Davis, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he was proud to have the FTA’s acting administrator on hand in central Illinois “to see firsthand the difference the bus grant will make in the community.”

“Investing in our smaller, public transit systems means investing in jobs and economic growth, while also ensuring access to safe and affordable transportation for riders,” Rep. Davis said. “I will continue to be an advocate for our smaller transit systems that are critical to the communities they serve.”

FTA’s Williams commended leadership from U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, saying the “FTA is proud to support improved bus service for the thousands of riders in Bloomington who take the bus to work, school and other destinations.”

In fact, Rep. LaHood asked Secretary Chao in a July 27 letter to support Connect Transit’s grant application for the funding award “to continue its commitment of providing excellent service to a region with increasing ridership.”

Thorne, the bus service company’s general manager, said last week that he was “very thankful to Congressman LaHood and Congressman Davis” for attending the event to highlight the grant to Connect Transit.

“The federal bus grant is so important to transit agencies like Connect Transit to continue operating needed bus service in our community,” Thorne said.