4 Maine counties will improve transit with $650K in federal funds
Transportation services in four rural Maine counties are getting a boost from $650,462 in federal funding.
The money is being allocated through the Maine Department of Transportation to two nonprofit organizations, Penquis and the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, to expand ride services for residents in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Kennebec counties.
The two organizations will use the funds to upgrade technology, increasing efficiency through the use of real-time data and enhanced scheduling and dispatching. A fare card system will also expand payment options for riders.
Last year, Penquis and KVCAP made transportation available for nearly 8,000 Mainers in need, providing 454,766 rides that covered 8.6 million miles.
Many Maine residents depend on public transportation to access jobs, medical care and other needs. But transit providers, especially in rural parts of the state, are limited.
“Maine’s vast rural geography, our aging population, the high cost of owning a vehicle, and harsh winter weather all create a high demand for community transportation options,” said Steven Richard, Penquis transportation services director, in a news release. “The grant will be used to develop and acquire software that will help expand our region’s capacity to meet transportation needs into the future.”
This discretionary federal funding comes from the Areas of Persistent Poverty Program — one of the several new discretionary grant programs included in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.
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