Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia each won awards in the latest round of grants to encourage alternative transportation in public lands. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) just announced the latest Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program awards. The grants come from both FY 11 and FY 12 allocations. Though the grants were named in honor of retired US. Senator Paul Sarbanes, his home state finally got its first grant under the program.
FTA got 106 applications requesting a total of $91.1 million, more than twice as much money as it had available.
FTA said it may award more grants later this year if funding becomes available. The future of the program is in limbo now and is only authorized through March 31, pending a new surface transportation bill (see story linked to below).
In Washington, DC, the National Park Service (NPS) got a grant of $356,923 for a planning study on tour bus operations on the National Mall and other parks with monuments. The long-time tour bus operator recently ceased operations.
In Virginia, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) got two awards. It received $449,000 to study alternative transportation at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach.
FWS also received $1.5 million to build a park and ride facility at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.
In Maryland, NPS received $450,000 to resurface the Sinepuxent District Trails in Assateague Island National Seashore.
See the list of grantees at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-03/pdf/2012-2260.pdf.
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