City granted $6.4 million in transit funding through CARES Act

The City of San Marcos was awarded a federal grant of $6,429,168 to help transit providers continue to operate throughout the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The funding appropriated by Congress comes through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of the CARES Act. The FTA granted $25.9 million in grant awards to five transit providers in Texas.

“While Texans continue doing everything they can in response to the spread of the coronavirus, we in Washington should give them everything they need to succeed,” said U.S. Senator John Cornyn. “I’m thankful to the Trump Administration for encouraging transit improvement in San Marcos.”

The grant will support the City of San Marcos in operating, administrative and preventive maintenance costs in order to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The City of Brownsville, the Concho Valley Transit District, the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission and the City of Wichita Falls are also recipients of the grant funding.

“This historic $25 Billion in grant funding will ensure our nation’s public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who continue to depend on them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”

In addition to the CARES Act funding, FTA issued a Safety Advisory that prompts transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, physical separation, and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs.