LUFKIN, TX — Rural transit riders across the state will see several upgrades as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has received millions of dollars in federal funding.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded TxDOT $14 million through its Buses and Bus Facilities Program. In total, the FTA awarded $423 million across the nation.

This money will help transit riders in rural areas of our state by providing new buses and improving facilities. Combined with currently available federal and state money, it will replace more than 250 worn rural transit vehicles and help replace and improve outdated rural transit facilities.

These federal dollars will help fund the rehabilitation of Brazos Transit District’s Maintenance Facility in Livingston with repairs and updates that will bring the facility into a state of good repair. The current structure was built in 1978 and functioned as a car dealership until purchased by Brazos Transit District in 2000.

The facility houses 31 of the transit district’s 116 fleet vehicles. Four of six maintenance bays are presently inaccessible due to building conditions and safety concerns. Building rehabilitation will also restore the facility to full maintenance capacity. Currently, the project is in preliminary design and environmental phase.

Other projects will be in the areas of San Angelo, Amarillo, Alice, Crowell, Terrell and El Paso County.

TxDOT provides support to transit programs serving 41 percent of the state’s population and over 97 percent of the state’s land area.