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Wu gets funds earmarked for county transit system |
By Amanda
Newman, Newberg Graphic intern
E-mail Amanda at
anewman@eaglenewspapers.com
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McMINNVILLE — The Yamhill
County Transit Area could receive $150,000 in federal transportation
funds thanks to an earmark added to a federal bill by Congressman
David Wu, who represents the 1st Congressional District.
The funds were included in this year’s transit appropriations
package, one of eight annual funding bills now before the U.S.
Senate for approval.
If approved, the funds will likely go toward purchasing new
vehicles for the county’s bus service system, said district manager
Tanya Saunders.
“We’ve been applying for funds yearly since 2004,” she said. “So
far we’ve been able to add a large, 32-passenger bus and an
18-passenger van with wheelchair accessibility from past earmarks.”
The earmark will be supplemented by $224,000 from the Oregon
Department of Transportation, added Yamhill County Commissioner
Leslie Lewis.
“That should be able to provide three new buses to the CVSCC (Chehalem
Valley Senior Citizens Council), depending on what models we get.
The models now in use are about $75,000 each,” she said.
The CVSCC is one of the member agencies of the Yamhill County
Transit Area and operates bus services in Newberg and Dundee.
“We’re looking for the ability to expand hours and offer more
frequent service; also the CVSCC buses are getting near the age for
replacement,” Lewis said.
The YCTA also plans by fall to erect bus shelters and route signs
throughout the county using money set aside from a previous earmark.
“We’ll have quite a few shelters in Newberg and McMinnville for the
fixed (downtown loop) route and at least one in each of the other
cities for the connector routes,” Lewis said. “It’s going in small
steps, but we’re making progress.” |
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From July 21, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
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