Public transportation funding awarded

State transportation officials approved sending $28.7 billion to public transportation providers for fiscal year 2008.

The action follows recent work by legislative leaders to restore $17.6 billion in state grant funding for small urban and rural transit providers for the FY 2008-09 biennium.

"Legislative leaders restored funding for these transit providers to historical levels," said Eric Gleason, Texas Department of Transportation's director of public transportation.

The commission also approved a $2.6 million award in transportation development credits for various public transportation capital projects.

Transportation development credits -- formerly known as toll credits -- became a stronger funding option as a result of federal legislation by U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess in 2005.

The credits are earned when local and state funds are used to construct toll facilities. The federal government credits states for their investment in these projects by allowing them to be used to offset other transportation expenditures. State and federal law permit the substitution of toll credits as the required non-federal match for capital projects.

In December 2006, the transportation commission expressed its desire to award TDCs to transit providers for projects that comply with the department's five goals to reduce congestion, expand economic opportunity, enhance safety, improve air quality, and increase the value of transportation asset.

Examples of eligible projects would be the replacement and expansion of fleet vehicles and maintenance facilities.

During 2006, Texas' rural and small urban transit agencies provided nearly 22 million rides.

The Brownwood District has two rural transit providers: Central Texas Rural Transit District, better known as City and Rural Rides, and Hill Country Transit District.