Congressman John D. Dingell

Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) today announced that Lake Erie Transit will receive more than $1 million dollars in federal grant awards. Lake Erie Transit will receive $693,000 for the purchase of up to two hybrid expansion buses, and $495,000 for its maintenance facility parking garage expansion. This is part of an overall $6.743 million award to the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) which serves Monroe, Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties.

"This funding will be particularly helpful to the growing communities in Monroe County," Dingell said. "The Lake Erie Transit team's foresight to recognize the need for hybrid buses and an improved maintenance facility ensures that this investment will serve the citizens and businesses of Monroe County for years to come."

Congressman Dingell secured these two grant awards through the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, and the District of Columbia Appropriations bill that was signed into law November 30, 2005. The Federal Transit Administration released the Notice of Grant Award yesterday.

"The hybrid buses offer fuel savings and are environmentally friendly, plus with the money for the maintenance bay expansion, we'll have the room we need to work on them," said Mark Jagodzinski, the General Manager of Lake Erie Transit. "It's amazing we've been able to do what we've done with the room we have. The garage expansion will make it possible for us to take better care of the hybrids and our fleet. These grants will allow us to continue our efforts to provide the standard of maintenance and service our passengers are accustomed to."