April 16, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STIMULUS FUNDING MAKES ITS WAY TO DECATUR
DECATUR - The City of Decatur and associated entities will receive more than $6 million from the first round of stimulus funding this year to be allocated to a variety of vital community programs and services related to public transportation, addressing the needs of the homeless and low-to-moderate income residents.
This total represents what we have learned that we will receive to date and does not mean that additional funding will not be forthcoming to help pay for other necessary projects and services.
$2.949 million has been allocated to the Decatur Urbanized Area Transportation Study (DUATS), the regional transportation planning entity for the Decatur metropolitan area for transportation related infrastructure projects in the metropolitan area. DUATS is comprised of Macon County, the City of Decatur, the Village of Forsyth, the Village of Mt. Zion, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.
DUATS member agencies are scheduled to make funding decisions in the coming weeks and corroborate on a regular basis to address transportation issues for the entire region.
“The working to secure the DUATS funding was a true partnership,” said City Manager Ryan McCrady. “All of the other local government agencies came together in the spirit of cooperation and in realization that in order to be successful we have to work for the betterment of the entire region, not just our own individual entities.”
It was announced recently that an additional $768,200 will be received as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, funding designated for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency.
In addition, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced that the Decatur Public Transit System will receive $1,697,301 for “shovel ready” capital projects while $407,376 in additional Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG) and $623,000 in funding aimed at addressing homelessness in the community is also expected.
The Transit System proposes to use about $1,400,000 of its apportionment to purchase four 35 foot buses to replace the last of its fleet of 1993 buses while another $106,500 of the transit funds will be used to purchase two wheelchair vans. The Transit System uses six wheelchair vans to provide door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to use the bus system.
The remaining $190,801 will be used for the following transit facility improvements:
- Repair and remodel the bus barn, including updating the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, remodeling the restrooms and offices, and sealing and painting the exterior walls;
- Repair and sealcoat the asphalt parking areas and driving lanes on the north side of the Transit Administration Building; and
- Install a water recycling system in the bus washer to reduce the amount of water used in washing buses.
Most of these projects have been planned for several years but were delayed because the City lacked the necessary capital funds to carry them out. Staff expects to award contracts for all of these projects within 60 days of the date that the grant is formally approved by FTA.
The CDBG program is administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities primarily for persons of low-to-moderate income.
The City is still awaiting word from the federal government on allowable uses for the CDBG and Homelessness funding which is expected to be in addition to the $1.5 million in CDBG funding the city received this year as its annual allocation.
For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.