County receives $4.5 million grant for public transportation

Kootenai County will receive a $4.5 million grant as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed by the president on March 27. The funds will be used by Kootenai County Public Transportation for operating assistance, paratransit services, preventative maintenance, and for security services and equipment needs that have arose due to the pandemic.

“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.

“We know many of our nation’s public transportation systems are facing extraordinary challenges and these funds will go a long way to assisting our transit industry partners in battling COVID-19,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “These federal funds will support operating assistance to transit agencies of all sizes providing essential travel and supporting transit workers across the country who are unable to work because of the public health emergency.”