Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Tuesday, March 11, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Kit Bond announced today that he secured more than $5 million in federal dollars for important Missouri transit projects in the fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which the President signed into law two weeks ago.

"These dollars will fund a number of critical public transit needs across the state," said Bond, who directed this money to important Missouri transportation projects in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). "I am pleased to be able to deliver federal funds that will make it easier for Missourians to get to work, the grocery store, doctor, church or other locations."

Bond is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and, as such, has considerable leverage in directing federal funds to valuable projects in Missouri. Overall, Bond sent over $47 million to Missouri for transportation projects. Out of those funds he secured $5,258,560 million for the following public transit projects:

* Jefferson City - $800,000 for four large buses;

* City Utilities of Springfield - $672,000 for the renovation of the transit facility;

* City of St. Joseph - $480,000 for three buses;

* Care Cab of St. Louis - $332,800 for eight vehicles and $10,400 for a diagnostic computer;

* Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority - $16,800 for a vehicle;

* City of Carthage - $19,200 for a vehicle;

* City of Clinton - $36,000 for a vehicle;

* City of New Madrid - $32,800 for a vehicle;

* Franklin County - $56,000 for two vehicles;

* Mississippi County - $28,160 for a vehicle;

* Ray County - $56,000 for two vehicles;

* Serve, Inc. of Callaway County - $38,400 for a vehicle;

* West Plains - $36,000 for a vehicle;

* Kansas City ATA - $2,000,000 for buses and $400,000 for Independence Trasit Center & $100,000 for uprades to Blue Springs Park & Ride. (these funds were previously announced);

* Jackson County - $144,000 for four vans (these funds were previously announced).

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to Missourians in the United States Senate.