The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has been awarded nearly $23 million in federal funding to help public transit agencies hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Andy Beshear said on Thursday.
Twenty agencies will share $22.9 million dollars received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, in amounts ranging from $35,000 to more than $4.6 million.
The funding is earmarked to be used by the transit agencies for covering some operational expenses, including administrative leave for employees forced to self-isolate because of exposure to people infected with COVID-19.
Other eligible expenses include purchases of fuel and procurement of personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, disinfection services, and protective barriers between drivers and passengers.
“Public transit agencies and their employees are a lifeline to thousands of Kentuckians who depend on them for daily transportation,” Beshear said. “For those Kentuckians, the bus service is how they get to doctor appointments, the grocery, and other essential locations.”
Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray noted that public transit agencies have lost ridership because of the pandemic and have experienced much employee time lost to illness. “These agencies are struggling financially, and this funding is sorely needed to keep services running and our people protected,” Gray said.
The largest grant was awarded to the Blue Grass Community Action Partnership, whose Blue Grass Ultra Transit Service serves a large part of central Kentucky, including Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Mercer, Scott, Washington, and Woodford counties.
A complete list of the transit agencies, amounts of potential awards, and areas of service is available here.
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Written by Tom Latek. Cross-posted from Kentucky Today.