ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - The State of Ohio gave out $106 million to support local transit projects, and Allen County got $2.7 million to get some necessary work done.
The Allen County Regional Transit Authority says the money dedicated to three projects will help them provide the best service they can for the county. $460,000 will be used to maintain their fleet and another $750,000 to get generators to keep their operations running if the power goes out. But one and a half million dollars will be going to their garage expansion project. The addition will help the buildings blend in with the other downtown buildings and allow RTA to store and work on all of their vehicles inside.
"You know they like to see all the vehicles housed inside, that way it stays out of the weather, we'll be able to do that. Like I said, we'll have a better washing facility now for the buses and more bays for the guys to work in and not have to move stuff around as much to where they can do better work on the buses as well," explained Brian Wildermuth, co-director of the Allen County RTA.
This funding will not only help RTA get some needed projects done but will help with their overall budget as well.
"We had money set back to finish the garage project that was, you know, funds that we had from local match money and sales tax revenues, other things that we do ourselves in-house and now that we have the dedicated funds to finish the building, that money can be used for other projects," said Teresa Brown, finance manager at the Allen County RTA.
"Four years ago, our entire budget was less than the amount of money we just got on this grant, so we're pretty excited. This is good for the entire community, all of Allen County. With this funding, the work we will do will free up money to do other items," stated Karen Garland, co-director of the Allen County RTA.
The garage expansion is targeted to be completed by November 2024.
