$94 million in stimulus funding for Minnesota transit

Minnesota public transit agencies will receive $94 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a total of $8.4 billion being released for improving and expanding transit nationwide.

“All over the country, resources are being put to work not only creating jobs now – but also investing in the future. A future that strengthens our transit system, makes us more energy efficient and increases safety,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “With this recovery package, we will be creating jobs, saving jobs, and putting money in people’s pockets. And with these resources, we’ll not only be rebuilding roads and bridges and schools, we’ll be rebuilding America.”

“An economic downturn is precisely when we should be investing in transit,” said Minnesota Congressman and Chair of the House Transportation Committee Jim Oberstar.  “Building transit hubs, bus lanes and light rail transit creates jobs in construction and purchasing new buses generates good paying jobs in our manufacturing sector; these are investments that will pay dividends for years to come.  This investment will also help keep fares low, so working people have affordable alternatives to driving to work.”