Colorado Valley Transit gains operations dollars

State transportation officials last week awarded $19.1 million for public transportation providers in Texas, including almost $450,000 for the transit system serving Wharton County.

Colorado Valley Transit Inc. provides transportation for elderly people and those with disabilities and transportation for employment and job training including child care in Austin, Colorado, Waller and Wharton counties.

"It's set up for vehicle replacement, and it looks like we'll be able to get five ADA buses, replacing some 1999 buses with those," said Vastene Olier, director at Colorado Valley Transit. "It is a help, in that we get a chance to take off some old buses with high maintenance, but sadly we're not able to put any of this toward fuel, which is our high cost right now."

Colorado Valley Transit received $234,585 for general public transportation and $210,606 for services to people who are elderly or have disabilities.

Of that total of $445,191, $387,706 consists of federal funds.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the funding at its monthly meeting, held in Austin.

"This is one of the most substantial transit funding awards we have ever approved at one time," said Hope Andrade, commission chair. "It reflects our commitment to working with our partners in public transportation statewide, and it means a lot to individuals in smaller communities who depend on public transit daily."

The commission also approved a $2.5 million award in transportation development credits for various public transportation capital projects.

Transportation development credits - formerly known as toll credits - became a stronger funding option as a result of federal legislation sponsored by Congressman Michael Burgess of Lewisville in 2005.

TDCs are earned when local and state funds are used to construct toll facilities. The federal government credits states for their investment in these projects by allowing them to be used to offset other transportation expenditures. State and federal law permit the substitution of toll credits as the required matching for many transportation projects.

In December 2006, the Texas Transportation Commission expressed its desire to award TDCs to transit providers for projects that comply with the department's five goals to reduce congestion, expand economic opportunity, enhance safety, improve air quality, and increase the value of transportation asset.

Public transit funding for large, metropolitan areas is handled directly by the Federal Transit Administration.

During 2007, Texas' rural and small urban transit agencies provided nearly 22 million rides.