Feds give $3.9 million for Cascades East Transit COVID-19 response

(Update: Adding senators', Tammy Baney's comments)

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced Friday a $3.9 million grant award to the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 27.

COIC, which operates Cascades East Transit, will use the funds for public transportation operating assistance, paratransit service, preventive maintenance, security services and security equipment to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

See FTA’s apportionment tables for the totals apportioned to each area. (This funding is based on the agency’s current request and may not represent the full amount the agency will receive.)

“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.”

“The economic impact of this public health crisis has hit transit systems hard and the Oregonians who work for them to get people to their jobs, the grocery store, the doctor’s office and more,” Wyden said. “I am glad these resources are on the road to Central Oregon and will keep battling to get our state everything that’s needed to weather COVID-19.”

“Transit is particularly crucial for many Oregonians right now, from frontline workers who need transit to get to their jobs, to individuals who use transit to get essentials like food and medicine,” said Merkley. “We need to make sure public transit keeps running and that it is able to be adapted for this unprecedented health crisis. These resources will be critical to accomplishing these goals in Central Oregon.”

“Thank you Senators Wyden and Merkley for your unwavering commitment to bringing much needed funding to our local communities,” said council Executive Director Tammy Baney. “Transit plays a critical role in accessing vital services such as medical appointments and pharmacies, along with assisting our essential front line workers in getting to their jobs. This investment is an important part of our recovery plan; we are grateful for the Senators’ hard work on our behalf.”