Federal Transit Administration Grant Award
Central Oregon receives a grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program in the amount of $998,700. The grant program is intended to provide a means for alternative modes of access to federal lands.
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2011
From: James Lewis, COIC, (541)548-9520
Subject: Federal Transit Administration Grant Award
Bend Area Transit (BAT), in cooperation with the City of Bend, the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, the U.S. Forest Service/Deschutes National Forest, Mt. Bachelor and the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, has received a grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program in the amount of $998,700. The grant program is intended to provide a means for alternative modes of access to federal lands. This grant leverages matching funds of approximately $200,000 to be contributed by Mt. Bachelor and is one of 47 projects totaling $27 million in funding that were selected nation wide. This will allow the continuation of the Mt. Bachelor shuttle, making it easier for citizens to access the Deschutes National Forest by methods other than personal vehicles. The project will encourage recreational use of the Deschutes National Forest in a manner that reduces traffic from individual passenger vehicles and the associated environmental impacts.
The funded activities include: the purchase of six vehicles that would significantly reduce emissions and overall fuel use from the current fleet for existing services; the construction of two energy efficient bus stops at sno-parks on Century Drive; the purchase of two trailers for recreational activities; bike racks; and, other miscellaneous related equipment. The acquisition of this necessary equipment and development of the associated amenities will foster implementation of the action items expected to come from the Deschutes National Forest Alternative Transportation Feasibility Study (being completed by the local Deschutes National Forest office). It is also important to note that the new busses will all be disabled accessible vehicles which will increase capacity for passengers requiring accessible transportation into the forest.
The overall benefits of the project include greater accessibility opportunities for all citizens with reduced impacts on the environment, aging infrastructure and all natural resources of the forest.
According to Dave Rathbun, President and GM of Mt. Bachelor, this is an outstanding example of public/private coordination to provide transportation alternatives that help promote and sustain the recreational activities of the region as well as the local tourism economy.
