PARTA getting about $1.5 million in federal funding to replace buses

The Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority is getting some federal help to upgrade its fleet.

Congressman Dave Joyce announced Monday that PARTA will receive an approximately $1.51 million federal grant through the U.S. Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. FTA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Joyce represents Ohio's 14th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Portage, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Trumbull, and Ashtabula counties.

“The Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority is an essential service for many residents in Portage County,” said PARTA General Manager Claudia Amrhein in a media release issued by Joyce's office. “We are a lifeline, providing access to jobs, healthcare, grocery stores, and other necessities of daily life."

The funding for the grant was appropriated through H.R. 8337, a continuing appropriations bill which passed the House with support from both Joyce and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan. Ryan represents Ohio's 13th district, which includes all or parts of Portage, Mahoning, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull counties. Amrhein said she appreciates the support of both congressmen.

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“This funding will help the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority modernize its fleet and continue to provide safe and reliable services for its passengers,” said Joyce. 

The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program provides funding to to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as to construct bus-related facilities and to implement technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities.

“Public transportation is an important component of our communities, and PARTA has been a great partner in Portage County that works hard to provide seniors, people with disabilities and Kent State University students with the transportation they need,” said Ryan in a media release issued on Tuesday.

According to the office of Senator Sherrod Brown, of Ohio, the funding for PARTA was part of about $32.64 million in grants from the FTA program to five transit programs in Ohio. Grants were also given to Laketran in Lake County, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

Brown has also announced other funding that has recently come to the state to improve public transportation.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.