LTD Receives STIF Money for Vehicles, Rhody Bus Shelters, and Diamond Express
Lane Transit District (LTD) received $2.1 million from Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) Discretionary Awards to purchase new vehicles, replace bus shelters, and support rural bus service.
“This award allows us to replace three of our EmX BRT vehicles. These will replace vehicles that were put into service in 2007 and have surpassed their useful life, becoming less reliable, and more expensive to maintain,” said Cosette Rees, LTD Chief Experience Officer and Chair of Oregon’s Public Transportation Advisory Committee. “EmX is core to our service, connecting our community to employment, housing, and services.”
LTD received an additional $60,000 from the STIF Discretionary Awards to replace Rhody Express bus shelters in Florence. The District’s Diamond Express service to Oakridge received $150,000 from the STIF Intercommunity Awards and $250,000 through STIF from the FTA Section 5311(f) Intercity Bus Programs.
Overall, ODOT received 75 applications from transit districts totaling $35.5 million. With recommendations from the Public Transportation Advisory Committee, earlier this month the Oregon Transportation Commission approved $28.5 million to support operations in Oregon’s transit districts, including for bus service, maintaining and buying vehicles, building charging stations for battery-electric buses and vehicles, and other infrastructure to support public transit.
According to ODOT, the STIF program was established in Section 122 of House Bill 2017 to provide a dedicated source of funding for improving, maintaining, and expanding public transportation for all users. Every two years, public transportation funding is made available to support access to jobs, improve mobility, relieve congestion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon.
A complete list of STIF awards for 2023-2025 can be found in a news release from ODOT.