Contact: Rob Ostrander 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, July 16, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that Kansas City will receive more than $7.4 million in federal funds for public transportation needs.

“For many Kansas City residents public transportation provides access to job opportunities, daycare, the doctor or grocery store," said Bond. “This funding will help meet these needs and plan for the future of the City's transit system.”

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $7,457,052 from the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is part of the $20 million Bond has secured for KCATA over the past three years. The funds will be used to for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system and replacements buses. Bond stressed that the Kansas City transit system provides access to employment opportunities, medical care and mobility to the elderly and disabled and to many local citizens.

"More modern and efficient public transportation helps fight traffic congestion while also helping the environment, by taking more cars off the road," said Bond who has secured millions of dollars for public transportation needs throughout the state.

Kit Bond is Missouri's senior Senator and served twice as Governor before continuing his service in his third term in the United States Senate.