The Cowlitz Indian Tribe was recently awarded $185,368 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to replace the facility roof of the Cowlitz Tribal Transit Services.
The funding award was announced on Aug. 12 by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell who secured the funding under the $1.66 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It is part of $551 million allocated to the FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program, stated a news release.
“The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is grateful for the Federal Transit Administration’s infusion of funding, which comes at a critical time in the structural life of our bus facility,” stated Kent Caputo, the chief operating officer of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, in the release. “Maintenance projects, like our roof replacement, are essential to safeguarding our fleet. By protecting our transportation assets, we can provide tribal members in rural and remote areas with reliable access to employment, health care, and an array of tribal programs and services.”
The FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program provides a competitive process for the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects. Applications are evaluated on a range of criteria, which include the demonstration of need, benefits, planning and local prioritization, stated the release.
“For Cowlitz Tribal Transit Services, keeping assets in good repair and under cover can extend the life of its buses and ensure that transit connections in its service area are maintained,” stated the release.
The transit system, which covers approximately 2,640 square miles, serves a largely rural, low-density area of Southwestern Washington. Cowlitz Transit Services made 4,598 trips in 2021, covering 1,234,470 miles for its customers.
“Cowlitz Indian Tribe offers crucial dial-a-ride transit service for tribal members and Cowlitz County residents that allows folks to get to work, make it to medical appointments, and connect to other parts of the region,” stated Cantwell in a release from her office. “This $185,368 grant for the Tribe to repair the roof of their bus maintenance facility — which is currently rotting — will allow the Tribe to conduct bus maintenance for the foreseeable future in order to sustain core transit service.”
