BOSTON — Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will award the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) with five new vehicles and $8,414 in funding.

 

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that a total of $8.9 million for municipalities, Councils on Aging, nonprofit organizations and other entities to use under the Community Transit Grant Program administered by MassDOT. 

 

"Community Transit Grants provide critical funding to local organizations to purchase equipment to help people get where they need to go efficiently and safely," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Our Administration will continue to make efforts to work with local leaders, community stakeholders, and the private sector to make transit accessible to everyone."

 

BRTA will be awarded five vehicles and $8,414 in funding for salaries and materials to support BRTA's travel training program

 

The annual competitive grant program awards funds to be used for transit operating costs, mobility management, or new capital investments.

 

"We are pleased to provide this key funding to cities and towns, regional transit authorities, and non-profit organizations statewide to help support their transportation needs," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. "These grant awards expand upon current transportation services in areas where transit may currently be limited and will ensure that residents have additional options for travel."

 

The funding is for applications made to the program during 2021 for Fiscal Year 2022.  Awards include funding to 27 organizations for 115 vans and minibuses and money to 18 entities for 23 operating and mobility management projects. Award recipients include some of the state's 15 Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), municipalities, Councils on Aging, and eligible nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts.

 

 "The Community Transit Grant Program is essential in allowing transportation providers across the Commonwealth to adapt and improve their services for the public," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. "In particular, these grants will help projects that will benefit individuals with disabilities or others who need assistance while accessing transportation."

 

 The Community Transit Grant Program is the Commonwealth's annual competitive grant program to distribute both Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities funds and State Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) funds. The FTA Section 5310 grant program provides funding to assist with the purchase of capital equipment, mobility management, and operational costs to meet the mobility needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities of any age. State Mobility Assistance Program funds are used to assist in the provision of transportation services to seniors and persons with disabilities exclusively through the purchase of eligible vehicles.

 

In total in this grant round, MassDOT plans to distribute $8,912,588 of federal and state funds for vehicles, operating projects, and mobility management projects.