State Legislature passes bill that releases federal ARRA stimulus dollars to local transit systems.  The bill passed the State Senate on Thursday, June 10 and the House concurred, sending it to Governor Granholm for her signature.

The original formula distribution of federal ARRA funds included in 2009 PA 3 included $211.8 million for local road jurisdictions. As part of the local federal aid planning process, some local units elected to “flex” these funds for local transit projects. [The option to flex certain federal highway program funds for local transit projects is available under the current non-ARRA federal aid program.] The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the state’s request, on behalf of local units, to flex a total of $524,100 in FHWA ARRA funds to local transit projects for capital equipment and facility renovations.

The specific projects are as follows:

• Ogema County Board of Commissioners $20,000Sanilac County Board of Commissions $14,405
• St. Joseph County Transportation Authority $110,121
• Barry County Board of Commissioners $48,000
• Van Buren County Board of Commissioners $80,000Caro Transit $28,000
• Ionia Dial-a-Ride $15,000
• Greater Lapeer Transit Authority $20,000
• Shiawassee Area Transit Authority $6,000
• Crawford County Transportation Authority $37,885
• Bay Metro Transportation Authority (Arenac County) $40,000
• ALTRAN Transportation Authority (Alger County) $71,327
• Lenawee County Board of Commissioners $7,834
• City of Adrian $25,500