BOISE, Idaho — Although the coronavirus outbreak has meant bad news for Valley Ride Transit (VRT) since a lot fewer people are riding the busses, it has brought some good news. The U.S. Transportation Department has award VRT a $20 million grant as part of the Coroanvirus Aid Relief and Economic Security act.
“This historic $25 billion in grant funding will ensure our nation’s public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who continue to depend on them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The federal grant has distributed money to bus and transit companies all over the country.
"We knew that we'd be impacted financially as it were, but now we can take our time and really plan for the future on," said Mark Carnopis, VRT spokesman. "This is an excellent opportunity for our transit system and really other transit systems nationwide to kinda get through this whole crisis."
VRT says it will use the funds to maintain bus, paratransit and vanpool services in the Boise and Nampa areas. The money will also be used to pay employee wages, purchase cleaning supplies and pay for projects that will improve the bus system.
