The Texas Transportation Commission approved more than $154 million in transit funding to help Texans reach jobs, school, medical care, and other essential destinations, the Texas Department of Transportation announced in a July 31 news release. The awards were approved at the commission’s June and July meetings.
The state and federal funding supports transit programs connecting people in rural and urban communities to essential services, and TxDOT said it will help expand services for seniors and people with disabilities, improve mobility options, deliver modern infrastructure, and enhance existing transit operations. In all, the agency is funding 77 public transit and nonprofit agencies serving communities across the state.
“Public transit is an essential part of connecting many Texans to the people, places and opportunities that matter most,” said Alvin New, acting chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, in the release. “Whether it’s a ride to work, school, a medical appointment or the grocery store, these services help provide safe, reliable options that give more Texans the freedom to get where they need to go.”
The agency offered examples of how transit providers will put the money to work. Rolling Plains Management Corporation plans to purchase accessible vehicles with advanced safety features including on-board cameras, while Meals on Wheels Montgomery County will offer countywide curb-to-curb transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, according to the release. Senior Center Resources and Public Transit, Inc. plans to implement an artificial intelligence voice agent providing 24/7 automated support for rural riders.
Other recipients include the City of Lubbock, which will advance engineering and design for an administrative and maintenance facility, a downtown transfer facility, and community mobility hubs, and All Aboard America, which will provide intercity bus service along two West Texas corridors linking travelers to the national intercity bus network, the agency said.
TxDOT said the investments will help agencies meet local needs while strengthening the statewide transportation network. A full breakdown of the awarded funding is available on the agency’s website.