WA: Pierce Transit Awarded CMAQ Funding of $404,729 for 2014 Vanpool Vehicle Replacement

Pierce Transit was recently awarded $404,729 in Pierce County Transportation Coordination Committee grants made available through funding from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). The grant funds will be used to purchase 15 replacement Vanpool vehicles in 2014.

Pierce Transit initially received a Federal Highway Administration grant of $129,729 in Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding from the Pierce County Transportation Coordination Committee for the purchase of 5 Vanpool vehicles. The funds were from the PSRC’s 2012 funding cycle and needed to be allocated to projects that appeared on the 2012 contingency list and could be immediately obligated. Pierce Transit also successfully competed for another grant of $275,000 for the replacement of 10 additional vanpool vehicles. Older and high-mileage vehicles will have first priority for replacement.

As of 2013, Pierce Transit’s Vanpool Program operated 346 vehicles, recorded 3,483 average weekday boardings, and served 2,643 vanpool customers. A total of 179 worksites were served, promoting economic development in Pierce County and reducing congestion along the I-5 corridor.