Grant intended to improve environment, increase ridership Curbing energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing public transportation ridership are goals of a $1.5 million federal funding request prepared by ITD and the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI). The Federal Transit Administration will award $100 million in discretionary funds to public transportation agencies nationwide for energy and greenhouse gas reduction through its Transit Investment for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program. “Idaho will use this TIGGER funding opportunity to help provide the state’s public transportation agencies tools and technology that will reduce vehicle fleet energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Randy Kyrias, ITD Division of Public Transportation administrator. The project also involves an overall statewide campaign to reduce emissions and energy consumption by providing improvements that will increase bus ridership, including the addition of:
“Making the public transportation system more accessible around the state and better for the environment should result in increased ridership that will help keep Idaho clean and beautiful,” said Heather Wheeler, CTAI executive director. Collaboration on the grant application was a direct result of Idaho’s I-way coordination process, Kyrias explained. The I-way process has contributed to more effective partnerships, service and efficiencies that improve access and connections to Idaho’s public transportation and other mobility options. Published 8-20-2010 |