Head of Federal Transit Administration visits Portland

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree invites him to meet with local leaders to discuss state’s public transportation needs

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 FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff (left) with Portland METRO Manager David Redlefsen.

Today Peter Rogoff, the nation’s top official for public transit funding, came to Portland at the invitation of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to discuss Maine’s public transportation needs with state and local leaders.

“I’m very happy that Administrator Rogoff took up the invitation to come to Maine. It was an excellent opportunity for us to show how important public transportation infrastructure is for the state and what we need to move forward,” said Pingree. “The needs of our METRO system in Greater Portland fit especially well with the Administration’s priorities of restoring bus lines with more efficient vehicles and equipment.”

It was recently announced that Maine would not receive funding through the federal State of Good Repair Program, aimed at improving public transportation infrastructure across the country. In light of this, Pingree invited Administrator Rogoff, head of the Federal Transit Administration, to come to Maine to discuss how the state should move forward to find funding to meet its public transportation needs.

Rogoff met with officials from MaineDOT, METRO, and Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Authority. Pingree was voting in Washington and not able to attend, but representatives from her staff facilitated the meeting, which was also attended by staff members of Congressman Mike Michaud.

“As we move forward, it was important to get everyone at the same table,” said Pingree. “There was good discussion about both the grants process and funding opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, Adminstrator Rogoff is going back to Washington with a clear understanding of the support Maine needs for its public transportation system.”

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